Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 24

Centrifuging an uncapped specimen may produce a biologic hazard in the form of:

A. Vectors

B. Sharps contamination

C. Aerosols

D. Specimen contamination

Step 1 of 2

Centrifuge:

Centrifuge is a machine that works on centrifugal force used to separate two immiscible liquids (don’t mix together). For example, Water and Oil.

• One liquid remains at the bottom and other liquid float in the top of the centrifuge.

• For centrifuge, the specimen should be capped. Otherwise, the content of the centrifuge will splash around and produce biologic hazard.

Biologic hazard:

• Biologic substances which produces harmful effect and threat to the health.

• So, when an uncapped specimen is centrifuged, due to pressure inside the centrifuge, the specimen produces bio-hazard.

• Aerosols are the containers which are pressurized. Example: Perfume container and spray container.

Therefore, if an uncapped specimen is centrifuged, it produces biologic hazard in the form of “aerosols”. Hence, the correct answer is option.