UPMSP Multipurpose Health Worker with Lab Technique key terms

Microorganisms that live harmlessly on or inside a healthy body, such as skin staphylococci and gut coliforms. They compete with pathogens for space and nutrients and can cause infection when displaced or when immunity falls.

A microbe that rarely harms a healthy person but causes disease when host defences are weak, when normal flora is disturbed by antibiotics, or when it enters a normally sterile site such as blood or urine.

An infection acquired by a patient during care in a hospital or health facility that was not present or incubating at admission. Common examples are catheter-associated urinary infection, surgical wound infection and needle-borne hepatitis.

Routine infection-control measures applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis: hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask and eye protection as needed, safe sharps handling, and safe disposal of waste and linen.

Cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol-based rub at defined moments such as before patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after body-fluid exposure and after touching patient surroundings. It is the single most effective way to prevent cross-infection.

Sorting facility waste at the point of generation into colour-coded containers: yellow for infectious and anatomical waste, red for contaminated recyclables, white translucent for sharps, and blue for glassware and metallic implants.

An accidental needle-stick or cut from a contaminated sharp. Immediate steps are to wash the wound with soap and water, not squeeze it, report at once, and start post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV or hepatitis B as indicated.

Complete destruction or removal of all microorganisms including bacterial spores, achieved by autoclaving at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for about 15 to 20 minutes, or by dry heat and chemical methods.

Reduction of pathogenic organisms on inanimate surfaces or instruments, but not necessarily spores, using agents such as sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde or alcohol. Level of activity depends on the chemical and contact time.

A pressure vessel that sterilises by saturated steam under pressure. Air must be removed for steam to contact surfaces; loads need proper packing, indicator strips, and routine biological spore testing to confirm effectiveness.

A preparation of known resistant spores, such as Geobacillus stearothermophilus for steam sterilisation, used to verify that a steriliser cycle truly killed microorganisms rather than merely reaching the set temperature.

Planned checks that keep laboratory results reliable, including daily calibration of instruments, testing reagents with known controls, running internal controls with each batch, and participating in external proficiency testing schemes.

A sample of known reactivity run alongside patient specimens in the same batch to show that reagents, technique and equipment worked correctly on that day. Failure invalidates the whole batch and requires repeat testing.

A programme in which an outside agency sends unknown samples to a laboratory and compares its results with those of peer laboratories, revealing systematic bias that internal controls alone cannot detect.

Keeping diagnostic chemicals under the conditions stated on the label, such as refrigeration at two to eight degrees Celsius, protection from light, and use before expiry. Freezing or heat can destroy enzymes and antisera.

Adjusting or verifying an instrument against a reference standard of known value so that readings are accurate. Examples include zeroing a spectrophotometer or setting a pipette to deliver a true measured volume.

Puncture of a vein, usually the median cubital, to obtain blood. The worker identifies the patient, applies a tourniquet briefly, cleans the site, uses a sterile needle and evacuated tube, and applies pressure afterwards.

Collecting small blood volumes by pricking the side of a warmed fingertip or the heel of an infant. Used for haemoglobin, blood sugar and thick films; the first drop is wiped away to avoid tissue fluid and alcohol contamination.

Breakdown of red cells releasing haemoglobin into plasma or serum. It reddens the sample and falsely raises potassium, lactate dehydrogenase and some enzyme results, so such specimens are usually rejected for biochemical testing.

The fluid left after blood has clotted and the clot has been separated. It lacks clotting factors such as fibrinogen, unlike plasma, and is the usual specimen for most chemistry and serology tests.

The liquid part of anticoagulated blood, obtained by centrifuging blood collected in a tube containing an anticoagulant such as EDTA or citrate. It still contains fibrinogen and is used for coagulation and some chemistry tests.

A chemical that prevents blood clotting in a collection tube. EDTA binds calcium for haematology, sodium citrate is used for coagulation studies, and heparin or oxalate-fluoride tubes serve selected chemistry tests.

Measurement of the blood's oxygen-carrying pigment, commonly by the cyanmethaemoglobin colorimetric method or a haemoglobinometer. It is central to diagnosing anaemia, which is widespread among Indian women and children.

A thin film of blood spread on a slide, stained with Giemsa or Leishman stain, and examined under oil immersion to assess red cell shape and size, white cell types and platelets, and to look for malaria parasites.

A pair of malaria blood films: the thick film concentrates parasites for detection, while the thin film, fixed in methanol, preserves red cell morphology so the species can be identified from parasite appearance.

A strip-based immunochromatographic test detecting parasite antigens, such as HRP-2 for Plasmodium falciparum, in a finger-prick blood sample within minutes. Useful where microscopy is unavailable, but it cannot reliably quantify parasites.

A differential stain in which crystal violet and iodine are applied, then alcohol decolourises Gram-negative cells while Gram-positive cells retain the purple dye and appear blue. Counterstaining with safranin makes Gram-negative cells pink.

An acid-fast stain using hot carbol fuchsin, acid-alcohol decolouriser and methylene blue counterstain. Mycobacteria retain the red dye, appearing as red bacilli against a blue background in sputum smears.

Growing an organism on suitable media and then testing its susceptibility to antibiotics with discs or dilution. The report guides the clinician to choose an effective drug and discourages unnecessary broad-spectrum use.

The ability of bacteria to survive drugs that once killed them, arising through mutation or gene transfer and spread by incomplete courses, overuse and hospital transmission. It makes common infections harder and costlier to treat.

The unbroken sequence of refrigerated storage and transport that keeps vaccines and some reagents within their required temperature range, typically two to eight degrees Celsius, from manufacture to the point of use.

A heat-sensitive label on a vaccine vial whose square darkens with cumulative heat exposure. Comparing the square with the outer circle tells the health worker whether the vial may still be used or must be discarded.

A trained worker responsible for storing, transporting and monitoring vaccines, maintaining temperature logs, reading vial monitors, and ensuring ice packs are conditioned so freeze-sensitive vaccines are not damaged.

Rapid sorting of patients by urgency so that life-threatening conditions receive care first. In primary settings it uses simple signs such as airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness and pain to set priority.

A structured emergency assessment: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure. Each step is assessed and corrected before moving on, preventing missed threats such as an obstructed airway or internal bleeding.

A score from 3 to 15 grading eye opening, verbal response and motor response to assess consciousness. A score of 8 or below indicates severe impairment and the need for airway protection and urgent referral.

A pre-packaged mixture of glucose and electrolytes dissolved in clean water, given in small frequent sips to replace fluid lost in diarrhoea. Correct preparation and continued feeding prevent dehydration and malnutrition.

Giving zinc for 14 days alongside oral rehydration in childhood diarrhoea. It shortens the episode and reduces recurrence, and is part of standard diarrhoea management in national child health programmes.

The planned transfer of a patient to a higher facility for care beyond the health worker's scope. A good referral includes a written note of findings, treatment given and reason, plus safe transport and prior communication.

Accurate, legible, dated and signed documentation of patient care, registers and reports. Records support continuity of care, legal protection, programme monitoring and calculation of service indicators.

Planned communication that helps people understand health risks and adopt healthier behaviour, using clear local language, visual aids, demonstration and two-way discussion rather than one-way instructions.