Page 85 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Chapter 4 Facility and Equipment Maintenance – Cleaning for Disease Control 69

FIGURE 4.19 Blood analyzer and blood chemistry machine, connected to computer station and printer.

of radiographs taken. The chemical levels should be remarkably good in that it doesn’t break the tubes very
checked daily in the morning so that the tanks can be often. If it should become contaminated it doesn’t come
replenished before the day’s patients start to arrive. apart. So, twisting a paper towel up to fit inside the tube
holes is the only way to clean them out. You will need
one to soak up the spill and another sprayed with disin-
Blood Analyzers and Blood Chemistry fectant. The centrifuge labeled C in Figure 4.20 has tube
Machines holders that can be removed for cleaning. Dump any
fluid or debris down the sink. Then, using a brush, hot
The maintenance on these machines varies with each water, and soap, clean the tube thoroughly. Spray with
brand. These are very expensive machines and usually it disinfectant, wait for the contact time, and then wipe
is a task the veterinary technician will handle with a paper towel. Replace the tubes, then spray the
(Figure 4.19). However, if you are asked to “prime” a head and inside surfaces housing the head with a disin-
machine the instructions should be available and easy to fectant spray and wipe dry after the designated contact
follow. Some clinics have contracts with the machine’s time has elapsed. There is often sprayed feces or urine
manufacturer to carry out the routine maintenance. and so the PPE required are goggles, mask or face shield,
and gloves.
Centrifuges
Microscopes
Centrifuges are used to spin laboratory samples: blood,
urine, and feces. Each centrifuge will have a head that Microscopes are delicate pieces of equipment that are
accommodates tubes of various sizes (Figure 4.20). used every day in the clinic’s laboratory. Many microbes
When the centrifuge is turned on the head spins at require a magnification of 1000 times. The 100× objective
speeds of 1000–1500 r.p.m. The very nature of this is the one that magnifies to 1000 but requires an
machine is a biohazard spill waiting to happen! Tubes immersion oil to work properly (Figure 4.21). This oil is
break or splatter body fluids into the head and chamber placed on a microscope slide and the objective tip is
of the centrifuge. Allowing that to sit without cleaning it then put into the oil. This oil is difficult to clean off
up will often unbalance the centrifuge causing more without damaging the objective or the other parts on the
body fluids to be spilt. Goggles, gloves, and mask or face microscope. To clean the objectives and light lens use
shield are the PPEs required when cleaning the lens cleaner and a lens paper. These are formulated to
centrifuge. clean without scratching. Add a couple of drops to the
The centrifuge labeled A in Figure 4.20 is a hemato- lens paper and then gently clean the tip of the objective
crit centrifuge. It often breaks the tubes or they are put and the surface of the light lens. To clean other areas of
in the wrong way, which results in blood being sprayed oil or dust, you can use lens cleaner and Kimtech wipes™
all over the inside cover. Soap and a brush will be which are a little more abrasive, so they are only used on
required to clean the blood off and then it should be areas of hard plastic or metal. A paper towel is too big to
sprayed with disinfectant and allowed to air dry. The cen- get into nooks and crannies and too abrasive for the
trifuge labeled B in Figure 4.20 holds tiny tubes and is lens.