Final answer:
To prepare dried blood for testing when it cannot be sent to a lab, scrape it onto a clean piece of paper using a new razor blade and use sterile techniques throughout the process. Recording complete procedural details and following safety protocols, such as hand washing and proper disposal of hazardous materials, are essential for accurate and repeatable results.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with a scenario where dried blood cannot be sent directly to a lab, the proper way to prepare a sample is by scraping the dried blood onto a clean piece of paper using a new razor blade. It is crucial to note that while handling biological samples, especially blood, maintaining a sterile environment and proper technique is of utmost importance to prevent contamination and ensure safety. For instance, the use of forceps sterilized in alcohol to handle a sterile filter paper disc serves to maintain the sterility of the sample. In microbiological procedures, such as making a smear from an oral mucosa sample, allowing the specimen to dry and then heat fixing it by passing the slide through a Bunsen burner flame are necessary steps. These protocols are designed to preserve the integrity of the sample and to provide accurate observations when viewed under a microscope.
In the context of laboratory experiments, aside from safety and accuracy, replication is a key component. Recording every detail of the experiment's procedure and the materials used is essential for the repeatability of the experiment by others. This includes precise steps taken for sample preparation, the observations made, and the disposal of hazardous materials according to the instructor's guidelines. Hand washing after handling materials and following the provided protocol exactly as written, such as wearing gloves and storing RNA on ice, are critical to protect both the individual conducting the experiment and the experimental results.