Introduction
Laboratory–IPC Integration focuses on aligning infection prevention and control (IPC) practices with laboratory operations to minimize infection risks for patients, healthcare workers, and laboratory staff. Laboratories process high volumes of potentially infectious specimens, making safe specimen handling, waste management, and staff protection essential to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and occupational exposures.
This course emphasizes practical, evidence-based strategies to integrate IPC protocols into laboratory workflows. It equips healthcare teams and laboratory personnel with the knowledge and skills to maintain safety, compliance, and quality standards while supporting clinical decision-making.
Scope
This program covers infection prevention and control practices specific to laboratory settings, including:
- Infection risks associated with clinical and diagnostic laboratories
- Standard and transmission-based precautions for laboratory personnel
- Hand hygiene, PPE usage, and safe specimen handling
- Safe transport, labeling, and processing of infectious materials
- Environmental cleaning and disinfection in laboratory spaces
- Waste segregation, sharps handling, and biohazard management
- Laboratory instrumentation safety and decontamination
- Staff training, exposure management, and occupational health practices
- Surveillance, reporting, and quality monitoring in laboratory IPC
- Documentation and compliance with laboratory and accreditation standards
Objectives
By the end of the program, learners will be able to:
- Understand infection risks unique to laboratory and diagnostic environments
- Apply IPC measures integrated into laboratory workflows
- Safely handle specimens and minimize exposure to infectious agents
- Maintain a clean, safe, and compliant laboratory environment
- Prevent device- and procedure-related infections in laboratory operations
- Conduct surveillance, reporting, and risk assessments for laboratory-acquired infections
- Support staff safety, exposure management, and occupational health programs
- Ensure adherence to laboratory IPC protocols and accreditation requirements
Who Can Enroll
This program is suitable for:
- Laboratory technicians and technologists
- Clinical microbiologists and pathologists
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses and officers
- Laboratory managers and quality officers
- Biomedical scientists and allied health staff
- Healthcare trainees involved in diagnostic laboratory operations
Study Content from TERRALEAP.COM
Learners receive structured study support through TERRALEAP.COM, including:
- Expert-led videos on laboratory safety and infection prevention
- Scenario-based learning covering specimen handling, waste management, and workflow safety
- Guided explanations of staff protection, environmental hygiene, and compliance
- Learning resources designed to reinforce safe, consistent IPC practices in laboratories