ASCP DLM Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

In the context of laboratory operations, a tort refers to a harmful act or infringement of rights that leads to legal liability, typically occurring outside of contractual obligations. This means it can arise from actions that cause injury or damage to another person or entity, even if those actions were not part of a formal agreement.

For example, if a laboratory technician fails to following proper safety protocols leading to contamination of samples that harm a patient or the integrity of a study, this could constitute a tort. The key aspect of a tort is that it encompasses negligence or intentional misconduct that results in harm, rather than something that is based on a breached contract, which would be a separate legal issue. This understanding highlights the importance of adherence to both ethical and operational standards in laboratory practices to avoid liabilities associated with torts.