| A | B |
|---|
| Aseptic Technique | The practice of maintaining sterility during blood collection to prevent contamination. |
| Standard Precautions | Guidelines that assume all patients are potentially infectious, emphasizing hand hygiene, PPE, and equipment handling. |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Protective clothing such as gloves, gowns, face shields, and masks worn to prevent exposure to infectious agents. |
| Needle Stick Injury | Injury caused when a needle or sharp object punctures the skin, potentially exposing the healthcare worker to bloodborne pathogens. |
| Bloodborne Pathogens | Microorganisms in blood that can cause disease, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. |
| Sterilization | The process of completely eliminating all microbial life from medical instruments, typically using heat or chemicals. |
| Disinfection | The use of chemicals or heat to reduce or eliminate pathogens on surfaces or equipment, though not as thorough as sterilization. |
| Universal Precautions | Safety protocols developed to protect workers from bloodborne pathogens by treating all blood and bodily fluids as potentially infectious. |
| Sharps Disposal | Proper disposal of needles, lancets, and other sharp objects in specialized, puncture-resistant containers to avoid injury. |
| Hand Hygiene | Proper handwashing or using hand sanitizers to prevent cross-contamination. |
