La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § XIX-309

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

Section XIX-309 - Laboratory [formerly paragraph 19:024]

A. Microbiological cultures shall be disposed of in an incinerator approved by the Air Permits Division of the DEQ or sterilized prior to disposal. Smoking and eating are not allowed in laboratory areas. Laboratories, especially horizontal work surfaces, shall be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each work day.

B. [formerly paragraph 19:025] Sterilizers of the proper type and necessary capacity for adequate sterilization shall be provided and maintained in a satisfactory condition. The hospital shall adopt a recognized method of verifying sterilizer performance and records shall be kept of the sterilizer operations for at least a year. Quality control of sterilization procedures shall include placement of indicators insuring that heat/time requirements have been met in package interiors and at least weekly live spore testing in steam sterilizers. Live spore testing shall be conducted for each load which is gas sterilized. A mechanism shall be employed for re-sterilizing outdated packs and recalling sterilized supplies in the event of a spore test failure. Clean and sterilized supplies shall be dated and kept separate from soiled and contaminated supplies and equipment.

C. [formerly paragraph 19:026] Blood bank refrigerators shall be kept clean and maintained at a temperature of 1°C to 6°C (33.8°F to 42.8°F), provided with an alarm and used for flood storage only. Time and temperature charts shall be maintained continuously and monitored and recorded daily. These records shall be maintained for at least a year. Alarm devices for refrigerators shall be provided.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § XIX-309

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1395 (June 2002), amended LR 39:1055 (April 2013).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions or R.S. 40:4(A)(10) and R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(5)(15)(17)(20).