Abstract
Objective: Biosafety is an important element of quality management systems in laboratory practice as it is a measuring tool for compliance with accreditation and certification standards. Our aim was to assess the practices of laboratory personnel towards biosafety measures in their respective laboratories. Methods: The study design was a quantitative and qualitative cross sectional prospective one obtained with the use of a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done with Epi Info version 3.4.1 and was presented using frequency tables with chi square calculated for different variables with the significant p value set at ≤ 0.05. Results: There were 63 respondents in the study. Private laboratories fared better in an assessment of their biosafety practices. Comparative variables identified as unsafe biosafety practices between public and private laboratories were non availability of Hepatitis B virus antibody testing, p value 0.01, odds ratio 5.4, consuming food in the laboratory, p value 0.00, odds ratio 0.2., non-use of N95 masks p value 0.04, O.R 3.9 and biosafety cabinet use p value 0.05, O.R 2.8. Discussion: Biosafety practices in Nigeria need to be streamlined in accordance with good laboratory practices in order to forestall workplace accidents and promote a safe environment for testing of clinical human samples. Conclusion: The absence of appropriate biosafety policies and practices is one of the challenges facing health care workers in sub Saharan Africa. There is the need for biosafety to be placed in the front burner of issues in laboratory practice in our respective facilities.
Highlights
The concept of biosafety in laboratory practice is one that is of utmost important; and as such it must be given top priority at all times
There is the need for biosafety to be placed in the front burner of issues in laboratory practice in our respective facilities
Our aim was to assess the prevalent practices of laboratory scientists towards biosafety measures in their daily practices in their respective laboratories. This study on their practices regarding biosafety measures among laboratory scientists would serve as a baseline for their level of compliance with standard safety practices and help to design programs for training on biosafety for laboratory technicians working in clinical laboratories in Nigeria. This survey was conducted in laboratories in two states in South western Nigeria: Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Path care Laboratories Lagos, Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta (FMC)
Summary
The concept of biosafety in laboratory practice is one that is of utmost important; and as such it must be given top priority at all times. There must be a continuous concerted effort on the part of laboratories to ensure that their testing procedures are safe and in line with international best practices both for the safety of staff and patients and to safeguard the immediate environment from potentially hazardous pathogens [1].Biosafety is an important element of quality management systems in laboratory practice as it is a measuring tool for compliance with accreditation and certification standards. The application of biosafety principles ensures the mitigation of risk with respect to litigation as it pertains to laboratory acquired infections. The knowledge and application of biosafety principles ensure that test methods are safe in the laboratory and that potentially infectious pathogens are handled with minimum risk to laboratory staff [2]. The prevention of infections and occupational infections is of prime importance in regulatory agency agendas [4]
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