Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has reemphasized the significance of personal protection at all the levels, from public places to hospitals, to working spaces to residence and at individual levels. It is inevitable for personnel in a common working space to share items multiple times one after the other frequently. Laboratory is one such arena and is also of great concern as it is associated with handling pathogenic specimens, investigating and diagnosing pathologies. By nature, it can be of great concern due to the possibility of higher chances of cross contamination. This fact is made even more precarious by the current COVID 19 pandemic. Hence there is a great need for a set of guidelines, appropriate protocols, best hygiene practices and digitalization in reporting and teaching learning, to be followed in the laboratory to prevent cross contamination. Microscopy work area is part of laboratory where microscopes are placed and used by the professionals for pathological diagnosis or research. Though there are set guidelines to be followed for most aspects of the laboratory, the cleanliness and personal protective guidelines for microscopes are sparse. Use of a disposable or reusable plastic film for covering microscopes, selection of suitable disinfectant, use of proper cleaning and protective tools and safeguarding the sensitive parts of microscope are highly recommended.
Highlights
The type of laboratories, facilities available, services rendered, and the human resource may vary from a small sized, medium sized, institutional to corporate laboratories
The use of digital microscope is advantageous over the conventional microscope especially during these pandemics, as it avoids the use of eyepiece and aids in telepathology too
It is suggested to take into account the recommendations before access to the workplace, practice a good hygiene all time, and enhance the precautions measures in microscopes
Summary
The type of laboratories, facilities available, services rendered, and the human resource may vary from a small sized, medium sized, institutional to corporate laboratories. While microscopic working area may be a separate unit at some settings, it will be a part of laboratories in others. The basic guidelines remain the same and should be adhered to. In case both the units are, special attention is required as there may be multiple associations and interactions between the laboratory and microscopic areas [1]. Regular usage of microscope by multiple users in the laboratories causes contamination of its components. COVID-19 virus has been found in eye secretions It is imperative for all the microscope users to take appropriate measures to maintain microscope hygiene [6,7]. The hygienic protocols for microscope working area can broadly be categorized into the work area, microscope per se, personnel protection and protocols to be followed during reporting and teaching
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