Division of CLS Policies

Professional attitudes and actions, as described in the professional objectives, are as important as traditional academic standards for students preparing to deliver a high standard of health care and service. A student may be judged unacceptable for continuation in the CLS or MMDS program when he/she is deficient in professional behavior.

Further information on disciplinary, academic, and behavioral dismissals are discussed in the Clinical Laboratory Science Dismissal Policies.

CLS Students: Students in the CLS program will be evaluated frequently and are encouraged to discuss any academic concerns with CLS faculty members. At mid-semester in the fall and spring of the first year courses, students will be given a written evaluation. It will be reviewed together by the instructor and the student and signed by the student. The student and instructor together should suggest ways to improve or correct any deficiencies. This record will become part of the student's permanent file.

In order to continue in the program, a student must earn a C-, or better, in all lecture and laboratory courses. The following grading scale is used for CLS courses:

In some clinical rotations, grades may not be available at the end of the semester because of the rotation schedule. A student may receive a temporary grade of incomplete for the clinical course. The CLS faculty member directing the clinical course will change the temporary grade as soon as the final grade is available.

MMDS Students: The grades that you receive in the MMDS program are as follows:
H = Clear Excellence
P = Entirely Satisfactory
L = Low Passing
F = Failed
IN =Incomplete
AB = Absent from Final Exam

Students who earn an "F" in one class or 2 grades of "L" will not be allowed to continue in the MMDS Program. 
All courses of study must be completed within 4 years of enrolling in the MMDS program.

Explanations of IN and AB grades:
IN - Instructors should assign an "IN" where the student took the final examination but did not complete some other course requirement. The student could pass the course if the assignment was completed. The "IN" is computed as an "F" in an undergraduate student's GPA. For undergraduate students, an "IN" is changed automatically to a "F*" if the grade is not cleared by eight weeks into the next regular semester. For graduate students, an "IN" will revert to an"F*" (administratively assigned grade) if the grade is not cleared within one year from the original examination.
AB - Must be given to a student who did not take an exam regardless of the reason, but might have passed the course had they done so. The "AB" is computed as an "F" grade in an undergraduate student's GPA. For undergraduate students, an "AB" grade is changed automatically to an "F*" if the grade is not cleared by the end of the next regular semester. For graduate students, an "AB" will revert to an "F*" (administratively assigned grade) if the grade is not cleared within one year from the original examination.
It is very important to inform your instructor immediately if you choose to drop a course or withdraw from the program!!! If you do not inform us of your intentions, you could end up with an F or AB on your transcript. If you are not participating in the course discussions and work (without our knowledge that you are no longer in the program or course) you could receive an F on your transcript.

Dismissal Policies

You are preparing to enter a profession that has many rewards and opportunities for personal growth. As in many health care professions, however, there are risks in clinical laboratory science and it is important to be aware of those risks. In dealing with patients and patients' samples, there is a risk of exposure to infectious agents and, in performing some laboratory testing, there is a risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Because of the risks involved in this profession, the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science provides each student with extensive safety instruction. We also make sure that the clinical laboratory settings provide appropriate safety equipment and procedures so that unnecessary risk is avoided. We will provide instructions for appropriate care in the event of an accident in the laboratory.

It is your responsibility to learn and follow safety procedures. Your safety is always your responsibility. If you have any questions about safety procedures or the availability of the appropriate protective equipment, notify your clinical supervisor or the CLS Division Director immediately. Each student must receive safety training annually.

1. All students must complete and document safety training prior to working in the student lab. Students are expected to follow all guidelines in the safety training materials on fire, electrical, chemical, and biological safety.
2. Students are responsible for locating and being familiar with the operation of the safety equipment in the student lab. Remember, when necessary, the eye wash and safety shower should be used for at least 15 minutes.
3. Students must wear closed-toed shoes in the laboratory. Dresses and skirts must be at least knee-length and pants must be at least mid-calf. Shorts and miniskirts are not permitted in the laboratory. Long hair must be tied back. Care must be exercised to keep hair, clothing, jewelry, etc. away from open flames or laboratory equipment.
4. Any breaks of the skin on the hands or wrists should be bandaged before putting on gloves.
5. Standard (Universal) precautions require you to consider every specimen to be potentially infectious. For this reason, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times in the laboratory:
   1. Lab Coats must be worn and closed (i.e., buttoned) when performing laboratory work. If you have a significant spill on your lab coat, discard it immediately and don a clean coat.  In the case all your coats are soiled, please inform the lab instructor.
   2. Gloves are required when handling specimens, cleaning laboratory equipment and work area and cleaning up spills. If you are latex sensitive, please inform the instructors and alternate gloves will be provided for you. Gloves must be replaced whenever torn or appreciably soiled with blood or body fluids. Hands must be washed immediately after removing gloves. When removing gloves, grasp the cuff of the glove and pull the glove off inside out. Avoid touching skin with glove surface. Never wash and reuse disposable gloves.
   3. Face shields and other PPE are available and must be used when appropriate. Students should use the face shield during any CLS laboratory exercise where there is a reasonable anticipation of aerosol formation or a splash occurring. It should be cleaned after every use. To use, adjust the headband to fit your head and snap the catch. To place or remove shield from face, use a clean paper towel and handle the shield by the knobs. Do not handle by the part that covers your face. When the shield is not in use, place on a paper towel on your bench away from your immediate work area. To decontaminate shield at the end of lab, wet a clean paper towel with 10% bleach solution and, holding the shield by the knob, clean the surface. Rinse under the faucet with water. Place on clean paper towel to drain. Remove gloves and wash hands. Dry face shield with paper towel and store in your cabinet.
6. Lab coats, gloves, and other PPE should not be worn outside the laboratory. Remove PPE and wash hands before leaving for any reason. Wash your hands with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate soap.
7. Do not remove specimens, reagents, or equipment from the laboratory. This includes writing utensils, calculators and rulers used in the lab.
8. Avoid touching face with gloves and do not put ANYTHING in mouth. No mouth pipetting! No eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, manipulating contact lenses, or application of cosmetics is permitted in the laboratory.
9. Any spills should be cleaned up according to instructions given during safety training. Instructors are available for guidance in cleaning up spills. Do not clean up broken glass with unprotected hands. Use puncture resistant gloves and tongs, forceps, or brush/dustpan. Any spills of blood or body fluids should be disinfected with 10% bleach solution. Check the expiration of the 10% bleach solution. It is stable for 30 days after preparation.
10. Dispose of all lab materials as instructed. All contaminated disposable items must be placed into designated biohazard containers. Contaminated sharps must be placed into designated puncture-proof containers.
11. Contaminated needles or other sharps must not be sheared, bent, recapped, or removed from syringes or other devices.
12. Do not open the lid of a centrifuge when it is in motion. Ensure that the centrifuge is properly balanced, and that tubes are free from visible defects prior to use. Do not centrifuge uncovered specimens. Cover with stoppers, parafilm or caps. The exceptions are urine and specimens requiring frequent manipulation during a series of centrifugations (e.g., Ab/Ag testing).
13. If a spill occurs in a centrifuge, turn in off and unplug it. If the spill possibly contains organisms infectious by aerosol route, allow 30-60 minutes to permit settling of aerosols if possible. Wearing a faceshield and gloves, soak up liquids using absorbent towels. Decontaminate the spill area with 10% bleach. Note that bleach corrodes stainless steel. If bleach is used, stainless steel surfaces must be fully rinsed with water upon completion of decontamination. Use tongs or other mechanical means to pick up broken glass; do not use unprotected hands. Discard contaminated materials into a biohazard waste container.
14. Any injury sustained in the laboratory must be reported to the instructor immediately.
15. When leaving the laboratory, turn off equipment and put away supplies. Disinfect the cleared work area with 10% bleach solution. Remove PPE and wash hands after disinfecting the bench.
16. All personal items must be placed in your cabinet during lab. Headphones, cell phones, and pagers must be turned off. (Personal items may be stored in your cabinet, but may not be 100% secure and will not be accessible at all times. Food and drink may NOT be stored in the laboratory.)
17. All work performed in the laboratory is governed by the honor code. Work must be done independently unless otherwise instructed. All results generated must be immediately recorded in INK on the laboratory worksheet. Any mistake should be corrected by drawing a single line through the error and writing in the correct answer.
18. Use of laboratory is limited to designated lab hours when proper supervision is available. Visitors are not allowed in the student laboratory.

In the student laboratory, all students must adhere to the Student Laboratory Rules, which include guidelines for dress. These guidelines are designed for the students' safety and professional development. Any student who does not follow these guidelines may be asked to leave and return in the appropriate dress.

Guidelines for professional attire in the clinical laboratory require consideration for patients, visitors, and coworkers as well as personal safety. Therefore, when in clinical rotations, or when visiting the hospital laboratory as part of a laboratory activity, students are expected to promote a professional image by following these guidelines:

1. Clothes should be clean and neat. Casual or athletic wear such as leggings, sweat suits or warm-up pants should not be worn. Scrub suits are acceptable. Extremes in dress style should be avoided. Dresses and skirts must be at least knee-length and pants must be at least mid-calf.
2. Closed toe shoes only. No spiked heels or high platform heels.
3. A clean laboratory coat and a name tag must be worn when performing laboratory work. Additional PPE should be worn as appropriate for each task.
4. Keep jewelry, perfume or shaving lotion, or scents found in other products to a minimum.
5. When there is any direct patient contact (i.e., when performing phlebotomy) in any area, inpatient or outpatient, students are prohibited from wearing artificial nails, including artificial tips or attachments, gel nails, silicone nails, silk wraps, acrylic nails, and nail jewelry.
6. No headphones or hats.
7. Long hair should be tied back.

In addition to these basic guidelines, students are expected to follow any additional provisions of the facility's dress code. For example, UNC Hospitals' dress code states that jeans or any type of clothing (skirt, shirt, vest) made from denim of any color may NOT be worn. Collarless shirts with any logos or writing on them may not be worn.

Any student who does not follow these guidelines may be asked to leave and return in the appropriate dress.

Lab Coats

In the event of a laboratory accident involving a Clinical Laboratory Science student, the following steps must be followed:

1. The student must immediately notify his/her laboratory instructor and education coordinator concerning the nature of the accident.
2. The student must complete a Division of Clinical Laboratory Science incident report, with the help of the laboratory instructor. This form is also available from the CLS office. If a patient specimen was involved, the patient's identifying information must be recorded to be given to the treating provider.
3. The student must go to Student Health Services or the appropriate emergency care site for the facility, and alert the medical personnel there of the emergency status of the injury. The original incident form needs to accompany the student to the appropriate emergency treatment site. (For each assigned rotation, students are informed of the appropriate site for emergency treatment.) The education coordinator or laboratory instructor must notify the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science at 966-3011.
4. Medical personnel must provide treatment of the injury and the appropriate follow-up. It is the responsibility of the treating provider to investigate the patient's history and determine what medical treatment is appropriate.
5. The treating provider must provide documentation of follow-up care to the student. The student must bring this documentation, along with the original incident report, to the Clinical Laboratory Science Safety Coordinator. (Copies of the completed report must be made for the treating provider so that the student may retain the original.)
6. The original incident report will be placed in the student's file. A copy of the completed incident report will be sent to the UNC Health and Safety Office.

UNC Student Health Services' Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Protocol may be obtained at http://chs.gala.ovcsa.unc.edu/general-info/urgent-needs/health-science-students-blood-borne-pathogen-exposure.html.

Students who need first aid or emergency medical care for an illness or incident that occurs while performing rotation-related responsibilities may obtain care, at their own expense, at the following sites:

• UNC Hospitals: UNC Campus Health Service (CHS)
• VA Medical Center: UNC CHS or Duke University
• Duke University Medical Center: UNC CHS or Duke University
• Quest Diagnostics: Call 2500 for the Nurse or go to Quest Employee Health for assessment and Treatment. For infectious disease exposures: Infectious Disease Physicians Incorporated.
• Molecular Pathology: Park Medical Urgent Care. 117 Gill Street, Alcoa, TN 37701
• Laboratory Corporation of America: UNC Campus Health Service (CHS)

These sites should also be used to obtain emergency treatment in case of an HIV exposure. Note that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, post-exposure prophylaxis "should be initiated promptly, preferably within 1-2 hours post-exposure". (see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5409.pdf)

In order for Clinical Laboratory Science faculty to write letters of recommendation, you need to complete the "Consent for Release of Information from Education Records" form. Students' permission is voluntary and may be revoked at any time in writing. However, without this permission form we can make no statements concerning your performance. You may designate all Clinical Laboratory Science faculty or specific faculty members as authorized individuals. This form will be placed in your Clinical Laboratory Science file.

Cell phones must be turned off during lecture and laboratory courses. Do not leave class in order to make or answer a phone call. The CLS student services number (919-966-3011) and/ or lab number (919-966-5358) may be used as emergency contact information. Emergency messages will be relayed.

All students must document annually that you have read, understand, and agree to these policies using this form.

Students are expected to be present and on time for all scheduled classes and on-campus laboratory sessions.  In case of expected absence (e.g., surgery), students must notify the Clinical Laboratory Science faculty in advance.  In case of unexpected absence or tardiness, students must notify the appropriate faculty member(s) as soon as possible.  Students in clinical rotations must notify Mrs. Stewart and call the clinical facility.  For extended illnesses, documentation from a physician may be required.

The student is responsible for all work missed. “Make-up” work or other means of mastering course objectives will be governed by individual course policies. (Most labs cannot be repeated.)