Knowledge, Practice, And Perception of Biosafety Measures Among Clinical Laboratory Workers in Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Clinical laboratory workers are routinely exposed to biological, chemical, and physical hazards during specimen handling, testing, waste disposal, and sharps-related procedures, making biosafety compliance essential for occupational safety and diagnostic quality. Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and perceptions of biosafety measures among clinical laboratory workers in Lahore, Pakistan, and examined their associations with selected demographic and workplace-related variables. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over four months among 326 laboratory personnel from public, private, and teaching hospital laboratories in Lahore. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and completed a structured self-administered questionnaire covering demographic characteristics and biosafety-related knowledge, practices, and perceptions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Most participants demonstrated low levels of biosafety knowledge, practice, and perception. Low knowledge was observed in 205 of 322 participants (63.7%), low practice in 182 of 313 participants (58.1%), and low perception in 196 of 313 participants (62.6%). Mean scores were 11.03 ± 4.23 for knowledge, 14.50 ± 6.06 for practice, and 6.85 ± 3.19 for perception. Education and work experience were significantly associated with knowledge level (p = .003 and p = .002, respectively), while practice and perception showed no significant association with education, experience, gender, or laboratory type. Conclusion: Clinical laboratory workers in Lahore showed substantial biosafety deficiencies across knowledge, practice, and perception domains. Although education and experience improved knowledge, they did not translate into stronger practice or perception, highlighting the need for structured competency-based training, institutional monitoring, adequate protective resources, and stronger biosafety culture.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
1. Rivera-Pérez S, León-del-Barco B, Fernandez-Rio J, González-Bernal JJ, Gallego DI. Linking cooperative learning and emotional intelligence in physical education: transition across school stages.
2. Padde JR, Waniaye P, Ario AR, Kalyango JN, Kajumbula H, Nanyingi M, et al. Assessment of biosafety and biorisk management practices among medical laboratory students in two institutions in Uganda. Biosaf Health. 2022;4:399–405.
3. Nasim S, Shahid A, Mustufa MA, Arain GM, Ali G, Taseer I, et al. Practices and awareness regarding biosafety measures among laboratory technicians working in clinical laboratories in Karachi, Pakistan. Appl Biosaf. 2010;15:172–179.
4. Mehta TK, Shah PD, Tiwari KD. A knowledge, attitude and practice study of biomedical waste management and bio-safety among healthcare workers in a tertiary care government hospital in Western India.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health. Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories. 6th ed.
6. Lao MBC, Dayrit JF, Sarmiento AJS, Cañete AMS, Lumanglas RLB, Paler MKO, et al. Adherence to biosafety standard operating procedures: knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical laboratory science students at an autonomous university in Davao City, Philippines.
7. Almutairi NS, Tamrin SBB, Guan NY, How V. Review of knowledge, attitude, and practice among laboratory workers towards occupational safety and health. 2020.
8. Ahmed HK, Ahmed SA, Mohamed RA, El-Kholy AA, Abdelwahab SF, Abdelhafiz AS, et al. Appraisal of biosafety measures in governmental medical laboratory personnel: knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) study. J Biochem Technol. 2022;13:13–18.
9. Mohammadnejad E, Dopolani F. Risk factors of needle stick and sharp injuries among health care workers. J Nurs Midwifery Sci. 2015;2:34.
10. Iliyasu Z, Aliyu MH, Galadanci HS, Abubakar IS, Salihu HM, Habib AG, et al. Blood and body fluids exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV self-testing among healthcare workers in northern Nigeria. HIV Res Clin Pract. 2023;24:2256063.
11. World Health Organization. Laboratory biosafety manual. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.
12. Wilson DE, Chosewood LC, editors. Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories.
13. Aldhamy H, Maniatopoulos G, McKee M, Majeed A, Bouchard J, Akl EA, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control precautions among laboratory staff: a mixed-methods systematic review. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2023;12:57.
14. Halatoko WA, Wateba MI, Mounerou Salou M, Konu YR, Dorkenoo AM, Gbeasor-Komlanvi FA, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices in biosafety and biosecurity in medical biology laboratories in Togo, 2021. Front Environ Health. 2024;3:1387476.
15. Shakoor S, Mir F, Zaidi AKM, Zafar A. Barriers to implementation of optimal laboratory biosafety practices in Pakistan. Health Secur. 2016;14:214–219.
16. Da Conceição AO, Poser GLV, Barbeau B, Lafond J. Hypericum caprifoliatum and Hypericum connatum affect human trophoblast-like cells differentiation and Ca²⁺ influx. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014;4:367–373.
17. Bibi S, Khan F, Sajjad S. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals regarding infection prevention at the tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, KPK. Biol Clin Sci Res J. 2024;2024:943.
18. Sarwar S, Awan UA, Kausar S, Khan AA, Awan MA, Sarfraz Z, et al. Assessment of biosafety implementation in clinical diagnostic laboratories in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Biosaf Biosecurity. 2022;4:43–49.