The monkeypox virus is poorly named. The actual source of the virus is unknown, although it is possible that African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) might harbor the virus and infect people. Either way, the virus has entered the United States again recently and has caused new safety concerns for laboratories around the country.
As with the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the monkeypox outbreak has created new safety concerns among laboratorians. How easily can this be transmitted? How should samples be handled or packaged for transport? Will this create a critical lab staffing shortage? How should waste be treated? It is vital that lab leaders and safety professionals answer these questions for staff and relay as much information as possible to allay unnecessary fears.
First, one of the most important areas of focus for laboratorians potentially working with monkeypox patient samples is to continue to utilize Standard Precautions. As always, all specimens in the lab setting need to be treated as if infectious. When handling standard clinical specimens (blood, body fluids, etc.) from suspected monkeypox patients, no extra safety precautions or PPE should be necessary in the lab. The quantity of pox virus likely to be in clinical specimens is low, although procedures that generate aerosols should always be avoided.
Laboratory staff should also be trained to package and ship Category B specimens. The current West African strain (clade) of monkeypox in the U.S. is not considered Category A under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), so monkeypox swab specimens for virus testing should be shipped similarly to other clinical specimens. Use the packaging kit and follow the instructions from the receiving testing lab.
There may be concerns about the spread of monkeypox infection among employees in the laboratory. Any infected employee should be using PPE when working in the department, and the monkeypox virus is only spread by close physical contact, direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids, and touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids. If there was contact with infected PPE or if an employee had prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected co-worker, that should be reported. The CDC states that monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others. Direct any concerns to the employee health practitioners.
Laboratories should have an emergency management plan in place which includes how to handle staffing shortages. That plan may include sending routine testing to an alternate location, using point-of-care testing or reducing services to a limited test menu. In most laboratories, however, this monkeypox outbreak is unlikely to create a massive staffing outage. The virus does not spread quickly or in public, and a pandemic of monkeypox is not expected.
Handling monkeypox waste is another consideration for laboratories. Normally, the waste associated with monkeypox virus is considered a Category A waste (waste contaminated with a known highly infectious substance). However, waste from patients infected with the current West African strain of monkeypox is considered exempt from the category A Infectious Substance Regulations according to the Department of Transportation. It can be managed as regulated medical waste. Soiled laundry, including lab coats, should never be shaken or handled in manner that may disperse infectious particles. Laundry should be contained (bagged) at the point of use. Organizations should contact their local public health authority for more information if needed. As the past few years have shown, new threats will continue to emerge, and they will raise safety questions in the laboratory. As always, laboratorians should stay vigilant, pay attention to the work they do every day to avoid injuries and exposures when handling any specimens. Communicate with the hospital departments to ensure proper internal specimen transport of clinical and diagnostic (swab) specimens. Handling laboratory specimens has never been monkey business- the use of Standard Precautions and safe work practices will keep employees safe through this outbreak, and for whatever comes next.
–Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years experience as a certified medical technologist. Today he is the Laboratory Safety Officer for Sentara Healthcare, a system of seven hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia. He is also known as Dan the Lab Safety Man, a lab safety consultant, educator, and trainer.
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