In which situation should a medical laboratory scientist wear gloves?

Wearing gloves when pouring samples into labeled tubes is essential due to several important reasons. Firstly, gloves serve as a critical barrier to protect the medical laboratory scientist from potential exposure to biohazardous materials, infectious agents, or chemicals that could be present in the samples being handled. Even if samples are known to be safe initially, there is always a risk of contamination or exposure during the handling process.

Additionally, using gloves helps prevent cross-contamination between different samples, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of laboratory results. This practice also upholds the principles of good laboratory safety and hygiene, which are vital in any clinical or diagnostic setting.

In contrast, wearing gloves while answering phone calls in the lab or not wearing gloves at all overlooks the risk of contamination and exposure to potentially harmful substances present in a laboratory environment. Similarly, relying solely on gloves for handling hazardous materials does not address the everyday risks associated with handling various samples, underscoring the importance of consistent glove use in laboratory settings.