Confidentiality and Privacy in Laboratory Practices

What is Confidentiality?

It is the protection of personal information.

It is to keep customer information between you and the client, and not to tell others as well as co-workers, friends, family e.t.c

What is Client Information?

Client information is all About Customer Details who seeking for services like names, age, gender, history background e.t.c

As far as your work is concerned, what customer information should be kept confidential?

Examples of client information

  • Patient clinical history
  • Laboratory results/results

Confidentiality Management?

  • Create a safe place by keeping patient data.
  • Create the best way to deliver laboratory results.
  • Restrict access to laboratory workplace

Where to keep patient data?

  • The procedure used in handling patient data should be secure.
  • Paper Storage Systems; patient records must be organized and maintained as follows:
  • Well-kept room
  • Well-stored cabinets or file cabinets.
  • File shelf
  • Electronic record keeping; There must be a password for authorized employees to access information or data. It provides advantages over paper systems for ease of storage, retrieval, monitoring, legitimacy, and security.

Procedures used in secure data handling: -

  •  Laboratory data should be kept in such a way that easy retrieval of documents and all records ensures.
  • The storage period depends on:
  • Clinical requirements for retrieving patient records
  • Government requirements or approvals
  • Ability to store
  • Audit and evaluation requirements
  • Records must be organized, verified, and easily accessible
  • Records must be tracked by employees working and inspecting the supervisor

Procedures for providing laboratory results

  • The results of all basic laboratory tests should be available to physicians within the same day if the specimens will be sent to the laboratory in good time (before 5am).
  • All laboratory technicians should take into account the conversion time (TAT) in providing results for each type of experiment requested.
  • Strive to improve the delivery of reliable test results.
  • Laboratory results should be collected by clinical staff for presentation to physicians who requested tests.

  • Patients should not be allowed to collect their results from the laboratory.
  • In the event of adverse events in the order, device, equipment, or reagent, the Health Laboratory Specialist will submit the information to the relevant authorities.

What is privacy?

It is a state or state of being free from the attention or harassment of other people or

It is a state of being free from public attention.

The difference between Privacy and Confidentiality?

Confidentiality deals with the protection of personal information whereas privacy deals with the protection of personal information and personal information.

Privacy maintenance

  • Create a private environment
  • Never attend to a patient in front of others.
  • Create a room where you can attend to patients individually.
  • It is the responsibility of the Hospital or Laboratory Management to ensure that: There is a good environment for customers or patients to attend within the Laboratory area.

How to attend to a client or patient in a private setting

  • Greetings and inform the client or patient attending the nature of the relationship, the type of procedure that needs to be done; to establish trust, trust and obtain approval.
  • Respect for the traditions, values, spiritual beliefs, and human dignity of the sick;
  • Respect the physical and psychological needs of patients;
  • Avoid any abuse of privileged relationships with patients;
  • Promoting and protecting the welfare and interests of patients;
  • Refuse to accept any gift, favor, or hospitality.
  • Show humanity, kindness, and understanding to them;
  •  Strive to rid yourself of hidden fears and anxieties
  • Greetings and inform the client or patient attending the nature of the relationship, the type of procedure that needs to be done; to establish trust, trust and obtain approval.
  • Respect for the traditions, values, spiritual beliefs, and human dignity of the sick;
  • Respect the physical and psychological needs of patients;
  • Avoid any abuse of privileged relationships with patients;
  • Promoting and protecting the welfare and interests of patients;
  • Refuse to accept any gift, favor, or hospitality.
  • Show humanity, kindness, and understanding to them;
  •  Strive to rid yourself of hidden fears and anxieties

The privacy room should be as follow:

  • It should have a safe ventilation room (about 2.5m x 2.5m) and:
  • One table and two chairs,
  • Three waste bins can be disposed of.
  • One shaft or basin.
  • Keep the door closed when attending to a client or patient.

Access to laboratory workplace

  • Restrict access to the laboratory workplace.
  • Access to the laboratory work must be restricted to laboratory staff and other authorized staff.
  • This helps to protect patient records from unauthorized persons.

The Importance of Confidentiality and Privacy in Laboratory Practices

If confidentiality and privacy in laboratory practices are considered:

  • It creates confidence between patients or clients and the integrity of laboratory services.
  • It creates a good relationship between patients or clients and the laboratory doctor
  • It creates patients and clients believe that laboratory tests will not be misused or even touch the patient without permission.
  • It is in compliance with the Health Laboratory Practitioners Act and the Regulations section.
  • It helps to maintain a name in the Health Laboratory Executive Register

The results of the Health Laboratory Specialist for non-compliance with Confidentiality and Privacy

If confidentiality and privacy in laboratory practices are not considered:

  • It is a violation of an oath or a pledge of allegiance.
  • Health Laboratory staff will be held accountable for any action taken and the consequences of non-compliance with confidentiality and privacy in laboratory practices.
  • It practices against the Health Laboratory Practitioners Act and Regulation provisions.
  • It can lead to a Health Laboratory Practitioner facing legal charges under the Health Laboratory Executive Council or a court case.