5.1 Factors that increase the risk of infection

In addition to the hazards described in Chapter 4 for TB laboratories classified as moderate risk, and the general risks that are addressed by the biosafety measures described in Chapter 2, laboratories classified as high-risk (or containment) also face the following challenges, all of which increase risks:

  • staff must open positive culture vials;
  • staff must prepare smears from positive cultures;
  • DNA extraction must be performed on a positive culture;
  • manipulation of cultures for identification and indirect DST;
  • broken culture containers must be disposed of;
  • cultures or areas where spills occurred must be decontaminated. 

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