ATS Pulmonary Function Laboratory Manual

ATS Pulmonary Function Laboratory Management & Procedure Manual | 3rd Edition

• electrical supply • temperature

• sound levels, and • vibration levels. 1.2. Storage space and conditions are provided to ensure the continuing integrity of the following:

• samples • reagents • laboratory supplies

• equipment • documents • manuals • records, and • files.

2. Testing Environment for Pediatric Pulmonary Function Testing The testing environment for children should be as child-friendly as possible. Many younger patients do not perform the pulmonary function tests well, or they are apprehensive or uncooperative because of distractions in the testing area. Assure that pain-causing instruments (e.g., needles and syringes) are out of sight and that there are games, pictures, and videos in clear view. Having a fun space for play is helpful. A nearby waiting area for parents is also ideal if the parent is asked to remain outside the testing room. Assure the child is comfortable in the testing environment. This is achieved through a combination of friendly conversation with the technician, songs, or positive distractions such as a video or book. The level of distraction must be enough to take the child’s attention away from his or her breathing, but not so exciting that the child breathes irregularly (2). General Hygiene Guidelines The effects of inadequate hygiene practices have long been recognized as being the causative agent for increasing the incidence of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients. Poor hygiene practice not only increases patient morbidity (which is also attributed to increased hospital costs) but also increases patient mortality. To date, there have been no studies reported which directly implicate PF equipment in the spread of disease. This, however, does not suggest that PF equipment does not have the capability of performing such a role, since a number of bloodborne (e.g., HIV, and hepatitis) and airborne pathogens (e.g., tuberculosis [TB], chicken pox, and respira- tory syncytial virus [RSV]) pathogens do exist. Some airborne diseases may be inconsequential in most instances, but susceptible or immunocompromised individuals could develop serious health complications. Thus, the pos- sibility exists for transfer of disease via the patient–operator, operator–patient, patient–patient, or the operator– operator interface as well as for patient–instrument or operator–instrument interfaces. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) addressed some hygiene issues in the General Considerations guideline (3). The intent is for the user to understand the goal of hygiene and its relationship to infection control during PF testing. The goal of infection control in the PF laboratory is to reduce disease transmission through either direct or indi- rect contact.

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