Chapter- 4 : Reagents (solution) used in clinical laboratories

4.4.2. REAGENT HANDLING

• 1. Personal safety precautions
• Assume all chemicals are potentially harmful to a certain degree.
• Be aware of all routes of entry to the body.
• Avoid direct contact with any chemical.
• 2. General reagent handling precautions
• All containers of chemicals must be clearly labeled
• Read the label carefully
• Before picking
• After picking
• Before removing a reagent
• Before turning the container

Reagent …

• Only remove approximately what is needed.
• Excess reagent should be placed in proper container
• Always add a reagent slowly and observe the reaction
• Always pour more concentrated solutions slowly into water or less concentrated solutions
• 3. Labeling of reagents and solutions
• Every reagents and solution in the laboratory should be labled appropriately .

4.5. Grades of chemicals

• Chemicals are produced in various purities or grades. Some of these includes:
• Reagent grade or Analytical grade(AR) grade
• Are of a high degree of purity.
• Often used in the preparation of reagents in clinical laboratory.
• 2. American chemical society(ACS)
• Are reagent grade chemicals that meet the standards of ACS.
• Labeled as ACS

Grade of …

• 3. Chemically pure grade(CP) grade:
• Sufficient for different analysis in the clinical laboratory
• Since their designation does not reveal the limits of impurities tolerated, not acceptable for research purposes
• Usually used when higher purity biochemical are not available.
• 4. USP and NF grade
• Are reagents that meet the specifications of united states pharmacopeia(USP) or the National formulary(NF)
• Are less pure than the CP grade.