Australia's Science Forum

Sorry for the dramatic title, but I'm beside myself
Yr 10 science teacher wants to do a glucose tolerance test with his whole class...yes thats 25 fingerpricks times several time points...blood, blood, blood!
Now I'm new to this game this year, but I'm pretty sure that student blood experiments are a no go zone...am I right?
What I lack is the documentation to back me up. I'm in the Victorian non gov sector, but even the state school documentation would be adequate for me to make a stand.
teacher is defiant (one of those 'dont tell me what to do' types)

any help would be appreciated
(or tell me I'm over reacting)

with thanks

I was under the impression that blood and cheek or any body fluid type experements were band years ago when Australia had the Aids Problems.

You are not over reacting, it is a BIG NO and has been that way for quite some time. I can 't remember where and when
it was stated. Can find out a little latter but by then I am sure someone will have the facts for you.

Here in NSW we have a document called Chemical Safety in Schools where in Section 3.2.4(b) page 29. It says "Experiments with fresh human blood or fresh humanb tissue eg. cheek cell smears should not be undertaken."
Hope this can be of help to you.

NOT ALLOWED!!!!!
Tell him to see the Head of your Department .. and if he i9nsists, make him sign a document that you advised him against it...
Cover your back!

Hi Cosmo
This is the reference from DEECD. Victorian School Reference Guide

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/managem ... ro/4_4.htm

section 4.4.5.1.1

Hope this helps

Ev

OMG!!!! You are definately not overreacting. He needs a reality check. Apart from the blood there are other implications. This is a diagnostic test for diabetics. What if a kid is a diabetic and undiagnosed? what a disaster!!

Thanks so much for your help everyone
Now I feel much more confident to do what I have to do

wish me luck!

i actaully think it is a nation wide thing - no body fluids of any kind at all.
so blood, spit, check cells , urine - nothing at all.

though i know it still gets done - check cells at least - casue the teachers say they know better thanteh health departments that were the push behind the whole ban and you cannot catch anything so we are doing it - lol. We used to do it before so we do it now whole attitude - sigh!

good luck

We-e-e-ll, there are ways around such things.

I have been known to make a slide of my own cheek cells, put it on the computer microscope and then up onto the data projector, so everyone can see. However no-one handles the slide (or the toothpicks etc) except me, and I dispose of it afterwards. But yes, for blood I have just bought prepared slides, and we simply can't do the other stuff, like glucose tests. That could be excursion stuff, with parental permissions, but not in your average school science lab.

If the teacher insists on doing the tests with blood how about you get him some dog blood from your local vet? Its a compromise that might work.
Joy

I think they still need to be smeared, stained, set and washed before being brought to school. I'm pretty sure even animal blood for testing is not allowed in schools.

Hi Cosmo,
There is SOO much wrong with this dopey prac idea I don't know where to start! In a clinical setting, GTT's are only performed after a baseline fasting glucose has been determined (you whack a huge glucose load on someone whose fasting glucose is over 20 and....!!!) because you never know!! Also, in my experience, lots of GTT patients throw up/faint/cry/go "silly"! Tell the teacher to do the test on him/herself first, and then tell him/her to pull his/her silly head in!
Liz

thanks so much for help and advice. Managed to get prac stopped.