To be safe, treat every spill as if it were infectious. If any specimen container in the laboratory appears to be leaking, don’t touch it. Bring it to the attention of lab personnel for repackaging. Do this even if the leaking container is inside another bag.

If something spills in the lab, immediately bring it to the attention of a laboratory staff. Apologize, but let the laboratory staff clean it up.

If a leak or spill occurs away from a laboratory, the courier will have to clean it up, using either the B.A.S.K. Clean-Up Kit or bleach.

• Make sure no one touches or walks through the spill.
• Always wear exam gloves when dealing with a spill.
• If a spill is large, blot up as much as possible with a paper towel.
• Any materials used to clean up a spill, including paper towels and gloves, should be sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories in a separate Styro and box.
• Put a large note on top of the Styro headed: "LEAKING SPECIMEN." If the specimen was infectious, put all of the contents into a certified container/box (MC1977-21b) with the infectious substance label and write "INFECTIOUS LEAKING SPECIMEN" on top of the Styro.
• On the note, include the courier’s name, whose specimen it was, where the leak or spill occurred, and any other relevant details.
• Be sure to note on the appropriate specimen control document that one specimen from that box has been shipped in a separate Styro and why.
• If a container is leaking inside a bag, immediately secure it inside another Mayo Medical Laboratories bag and ship it in a separate Styro.

Any leak or spill should be reported immediately to Mayo Medical Laboratories or the courier’s employer. Don’t wait for the end of the run; call Mayo Medical Laboratories immediately at 1-800-533-1710 and ask for the Transportation Department. Be sure to communicate if the courier or anyone else came in contact with the specimen.

Using the B.A.S.K. Clean-Up Kit

Kits can be ordered from the Transportation Department at 800-533-1710.

1. Open the kit and put on the disposable gloves.
2. Open the "Zorbitrol-Plus" container and cover the spill with powder.
3. Detach the scraper from the scoop. Use both to clean up the spill, which should now be gel, and any broken glass.
4. Hold the scoop with one hand. Use the other hand to pull the cuff of the glove down over the scoop, the scraper, and all waste. Pull the glove off, turning into a bag. Seal it with a twist tie. Place it in the cardboard "Zorbilope" envelope.
5. The courier is still wearing one glove. Remove the "DisCide" towelette from its packet and unfold it. Use the gloved hand to wipe the contaminated surface, wetting it thoroughly. Allow it to air dry.
6. Hold the towelette in the gloved hand. Use the other hand to pull the cuff of the glove down over the towelette. Pull the glove off, turning it into a bag. Seal it with the other twist tie. Place it in the cardboard "Zorbilope" envelope. Seal the cardboard envelope with the orange sticker.
7. If the courier is near the laboratory, ask the laboratory staff to "autoclave" the Zorbilope envelope. This will sterilize it.
8. Sterilized or not, put the Zorbilope envelope into a Mayo Medical Laboratories bag and ship it to Mayo Medical Laboratories in its own Styro and its own express box. Include a note explaining the contents.
9. Wash hands.
10. Call the Transportation Department at Mayo Medical Laboratories at 1-800-533-1710.

Alternate Cleanup Method

If for some reason it's not practical to use the B.A.S.K. Clean-Up Kit, follow this procedure:

1. Put on vinyl gloves.
2. Mix 10 parts of water with 1 part bleach. Pour the diluted bleach on the spill and let it sit for 15 minutes.
3. Blot up the spill with paper towels and wipe the surface dry.
4. Put the gloves and towels in a separate Styro and wash hands.
5. Ship the Styro to Mayo Medical Laboratories with a note explaining the contents.
6. Call the Transportation Department at Mayo Medical Laboratories at 1-800-533-1710.