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Hematology

Safety Data Sheets

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly known as the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), is the primary document used to communicate chemical hazard information in the clinical laboratory. Mandated by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) - often referred to as the “Right to Know” law - the SDS provides laboratory scientists with comprehensive procedures for handling or working with specific substances safely. With the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in 2012, the format of these documents was standardized into a strict 16-section layout to ensure consistency and improve safety comprehension across the workforce

Regulatory Framework & Purpose

The Hazard Communication Standard is based on the principle that employees have both a right and a need to know the identities and hazards of the chemicals they are exposed to when working. The transition to the GHS format shifted the focus from the “Right to Know” to the “Right to Understand,” emphasizing that information must be presented in a consistent, easily comprehensible format

  • Manufacturer Responsibility: Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce and provide an SDS to the laboratory with the initial shipment and with the first shipment after a safety update
  • Employer Responsibility: The laboratory management must maintain a current inventory of all hazardous chemicals and ensure that an SDS is readily accessible to employees for every substance on that list. Access must be barrier-free during all work shifts (e.g., in a binder or via a computer terminal that is always unlocked)
  • Employee Responsibility: Laboratory scientists must be trained on how to read an SDS and interpret hazard information prior to working with a new chemical

The 16-Section Standardized Format

Under GHS, every SDS must follow a specific order. For an entry-level laboratory scientist, knowing where to find critical emergency information quickly is a key competency. The sections are generally grouped into general information, technical safety data, and regulatory information

Critical Emergency Sections (1–6)

These sections are prioritized at the beginning of the document to aid first responders and staff during an immediate crisis

  • Section 1: Identification: Identifies the chemical name (e.g., Methanol), the recommended use (e.g., Laboratory Stain), and the contact information of the supplier, including an emergency phone number
  • Section 2: Hazard(s) Identification: This is the most frequently consulted section. It includes the GHS classification of the substance (e.g., Flammable Liquid, Category 2), the Signal Word (Danger or Warning), Hazard Statements (e.g., “Fatal if swallowed”), and the standardized Pictograms
  • Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients: Lists the chemical ingredients and their concentration ranges. This is vital for determining if a mixture contains a specific allergen or toxin
  • Section 4: First-Aid Measures: Describes initial care required for untrained responders. It breaks down treatment by route of exposure: Inhalation, Skin Contact, Eye Contact, and Ingestion. In Hematology, this is crucial for splashes of stain or lyse
  • Section 5: Fire-Fighting Measures: Lists suitable extinguishing techniques (e.g., “Use CO2, do not use water jet”) and hazards that may arise from the burning chemical
  • Section 6: Accidental Release Measures: Provides instructions for containment and cleanup of spills, including emergency procedures, protective equipment, and methods for containment (e.g., “Absorb with inert material like vermiculite”)

Handling, Protection, & Physical Properties (7–11)

These sections are used for preventing accidents and setting up the workspace

  • Section 7: Handling and Storage: Outlines safe handling practices (e.g., “Use only in well-ventilated areas”) and conditions for safe storage (e.g., “Keep away from heat/sparks,” “Store at 2-8°C”)
  • Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection: Lists OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and recommends specific PPE. For example, it might specify that standard latex gloves are insufficient for prolonged methanol exposure and recommend Nitrile or Butyl rubber instead
  • Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties: Details characteristics like pH, flash point, vapor pressure, and appearance
  • Section 10: Stability and Reactivity: Describes the chemical stability and dangerous reactions. For example, it warns against mixing acids with bases or oxidizers with reducers
  • Section 11: Toxicological Information: Lists routes of exposure, symptoms of exposure, and chronic effects (e.g., carcinogenicity)

Disposal & Transport (12–16)

  • Section 13: Disposal Considerations: Provides guidance on proper disposal methods, helping the lab decide if a chemical can go down the drain (rare for hematology reagents) or requires hazardous waste pickup
  • There are additional sections for Ecological Information (12), Transport Information (14), Regulatory Information (15), and Other Information (16)

Common Hematology Hazards & SDS Application

In the Hematology department, specific reagents pose unique risks. A laboratory scientist must be familiar with the SDS for these common substances:

  • Wright-Giemsa Stain
    • Primary Hazard: Methanol
    • SDS Warnings: Flammable liquid (Fire hazard). Toxic if swallowed or inhaled (blindness, metabolic acidosis)
    • Pictograms: Flame, Skull and Crossbones, Health Hazard (carcinogen/target organ toxicity)
  • Drabkin’s Reagent (Manual Hemoglobin)
    • Primary Hazard: Potassium Cyanide
    • SDS Warnings: Fatal if swallowed. Contact with acid liberates very toxic gas (Hydrogen Cyanide)
    • Disposal: Strictly regulated; cannot be discarded down the sink without neutralization or hazardous waste pickup
  • Lysing Agents / Diluents
    • Primary Hazard: Sodium Azide: (preservative)
    • SDS Warnings: Acutely toxic
    • Reactivity: Section 10 will warn that Sodium Azide reacts with copper and lead plumbing to form explosive metal azides. This dictates that if poured down the sink (in small amounts), it must be flushed with copious amounts of water
  • Formalin (Bone Marrow Fixative)
    • Primary Hazard: Formaldehyde
    • SDS Warnings: Known human carcinogen, skin sensitizer, and respiratory irritant. Requires use in a fume hood

Labeling & Secondary Containers

The information contained in the SDS must be translated to the chemical containers. While original bottles come pre-labeled by the manufacturer, laboratory scientists often transfer reagents into “secondary containers” (e.g., Coplin jars for staining slides, beaker aliquots)

  • Secondary Container Labeling: OSHA requires that any secondary container must be labeled if the material is not used immediately by the person who transferred it. The label must include:
    • The identity of the product (matching the SDS)
    • Appropriate hazard warnings (words, pictures, or symbols)
  • Signal Words: The label must prominently display the signal word found in Section 2 of the SDS:
    • “DANGER”: Used for more severe hazards
    • “WARNING”: Used for less severe hazards
  • Pictograms: Diamond-shaped red borders with black symbols on a white background. Common Hematology pictograms include:
    • Flame: Flammables (Methanol)
    • Corrosion: Skin burns/Eye damage (Bleach, Acids)
    • Exclamation Mark: Irritant, skin sensitizer, or narcotic effects
    • Health Hazard: Carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive toxicity, or respiratory sensitizer