Skip to main content
. 2021 Jan 9;24(3):437–445. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_442_20

Table 1.

Representing the respondents answers

Frequency (%)
All specimens collected for lab investigations should be regarded as potentially infectious
 Oral pathologists
  Yes 139 (84.8)
  No 12 (7.3)
  May be 13 (7.9)
 Postgraduate students
  Yes 133 (89.9)
  No 3 (2.0)
  May be 12 (8.1)
Which according to you are routes of laboratory acquired infections?
 Oral pathologists
  Exposure through touching of mouth or eyes with fingers or contaminated objects 3 (1.8)
  Inhalation of infectious aerosol 7 (4.3)
  All of the above 154 (93.9)
 Postgraduate students
  Inhalation of infectious aerosol 3 (2.0)
  All of the above 145 (98.0)
Do you think formalin fixation and paraffin embedding can deactivate the virus?
 Oral pathologists
  Yes 121 (73.8)
  No 43 (26.2)
 Postgraduate students
  Yes 59 (39.9)
  No 89 (60.1)
What is the level of corona virus infectivity risk associated with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue block?
 Oral pathologists
  Low 76 (46.3)
  Moderate 32 (19.5)
  High 10 (6.1)
  No risk 46 (28.0)
 Postgraduate students
  Low 52 (35.1)
  Moderate 71 (48.0)
  High 19 (12.8)
  No risk 6 (4.1)
How long would you suggest formalin fixation for virus deactivation?
 Oral pathologists (h)
  8 6 (3.7)
  12 10 (6.1)
  24 120 (73.2)
  36 28 (17.1)
 Postgraduate students (h)
  8 9 (6.1)
  12 28 (18.9)
  24 89 (60.1)
  36 22 (14.9)
According to you which steps in routine tissue processing would eliminate the corona virus on highest scale?
 Oral pathologists
  Fixation and dehydration 117 (71.3)
  Fixation and clearing 18 (11.0)
  Dehydration and clearing 6 (3.7)
  Dehydration and impregnation 23 (14.0)
 Postgraduate students
  Fixation and dehydration 74 (50.0)
  Fixation and clearing 31 (20.9)
  Dehydration and clearing 26 (17.6)
  Dehydration and impregnation 17 (11.5)
Which of the following procedures are associated with risk of exposure to corona virus?
 Oral pathologists
  Centrifugation 16 (9.8)
  Performing gram stain 7 (4.3)
  Performing AFB smear 18 (11.0)
  None of the above 41 (25.0)
  All of the above 82 (50.0)
 Postgraduate students
  Centrifugation 30 (20.3)
  Performing AFB smear 17 (11.5)
  None of the above 27 (18.2)
  All of the above 74 (50.0)
Any step which might produce aerosols should be done in
 Oral pathologists
  Class I biosafety cabinet 53 (32.3)
  Class II biosafety cabinet 43 (26.2)
  Class III biosafety cabinet 68 (41.5)
 Postgraduate students
  Class I biosafety cabinet 64 (43.2)
  Class II biosafety cabinet 39 (26.4)
  Class III biosafety cabinet 45 (30.4)
Air drying or heat drying of smears should be done in
 Oral pathologists
  Class I cabinet 72 (43.9)
  Class II cabinet 55 (33.5)
  Class III cabinet 37 (22.6)
 Postgraduate students
  Class I cabinet 54 (36.5)
  Class II cabinet 66 (44.6)
  Class III cabinet 28 (18.9)
Do you think fixing cytology specimens in above 70% alcohol would kill the corona virus?
 Oral pathologists
  Yes 77 (47.0)
  No 16 (9.8)
  May be 71 (43.3)
 Postgraduate students
  Yes 55 (37.2)
  No 30 (20.3)
  May be 63 (42.6)
Which of the following would result in undetected levels of viral infectivity in culture medias?
 Oral pathologists
  Irradiation with UV for 30 min 49 (29.9)
  Irradiation with UV for 60 min 37 (22.6)
  Irradiation with UV for 45 min 38 (23.2)
  Irradiation with UV for 10 min 40 (24.4)
 Postgraduate students
  Irradiation with UV for 30 min 42 (28.4)
  Irradiation with UV for 60 min 38 (25.7)
  Irradiation with UV for 45 min 25 (16.9)
  Irradiation with UV for 10 min 43 (29.1)
Which disinfectants can be used effectively on inanimate objects?
 Oral pathologists
  60%-70% alcohol 27 (16.5)
  0.5% hydrogen peroxide 7 (4.3)
  0.1% sodium hypochlorite 51 (31.1)
  Any of the above 79 (48.2)
 Postgraduate students
  60%-70% alcohol 31 (20.9)
  0.5% hydrogen peroxide 12 (8.1)
  0.1% sodium hypochlorite 34 (23.0)
  Any of the above 71 (48.0)
Infectious materials should be disposed in which of the following?
 Oral pathologists
  Yellow and red bag labelled covers 130 (79.3)
  Green and blue bag labeled covers 7 (4.3)
  Yellow and green bag labeled covers 9 (5.5)
  Red and blue bag labeled covers 18 (11.0)
 Postgraduate students
  Yellow and red bag labeled covers 103 (69.6)
  Green and blue bag labeled covers 3 (2.0)
  Yellow and green bag labeled covers 27 (18.2)
  Red and blue bag labeled covers 15 (10.1)
Is wearing of PPE for laboratory staff advisable?
 Oral pathologists
  Yes 137 (83.5)
  No 27 (16.5)
 Postgraduate students
  Yes 133 (89.9)
  No 15 (10.1)

PPE: Personal protective equipment, AFB: Acid-fast bacilli, UV: Ultraviolet