Laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19: Safety and preventive measures for sample processing

COVID-19 pandemic has brought the necessity of personal hygiene and biosafety into the lime light. The world and national organizations have recommended strict guidelines and regulations in order to combat the ongoing pandemic. As the disease is not showing any trend of flattening the curve, it is necessary to make quick and accurate laboratory diagnosis, therapeutics and vaccines for efficient control. During these procedures, many are forgetting about the safety of laboratory personnel’s those who are exposed to such a huge risk of handling and processing the virus. The laboratory procedures should be done in biosafety cabinets with proper precautionary measures according to the guidelines and standard operating procedures stipulated in specific laboratories. This article refers to the safety measures which has to be taken by the laboratory personnel’s in various sample processing laboratories such as microbiology, hematology, biochemistry, histopathology and cytology. We are also discussing about the novel methods for collecting samples with great safety measures like COVSAC, in addition to the common disinfectants used in laboratories for inactivating the virus and the advantages of personal protective equipment’s and masks. © (2020) Society for Biomaterials & Artificial Organs.