cross-contamination

Or cross con·tam·i·na·tion

[kraws-kuhn-tam-uh-ney-shuhn, kros]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the unwanted transfer of something bad or harmful from one person or thing to another, especially pathogens or allergens.
Even if an item has no dairy in it, there may be cross-contamination from other products made with the same equipment.
Each of you should use your own towel to avoid cross-contamination.
the unwanted mixing of minute amounts of one substance into another, as with laboratory specimens.
Your poor laboratory practices leave too much opportunity for cross-contamination of samples.
the mixing of ideas, information, etc., in such a way as to compromise their integrity or reliability.
I never read books in the genre I'm writing in—I worry about a subconscious cross-contamination of ideas.
Cross-contamination of testimony is a key issue when interviewing children as witnesses.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cross-contamination¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Some of the chicken was bought as halal, but poor hygiene and cross-contamination in the warehouse meant none of it could be truly classified as such.

From

Such conditions can lead to bacterial growth, cross-contamination and, ultimately, a higher likelihood of customers falling ill - in some cases seriously.

From

Lee also alleged that several restaurants, which he left unnamed, followed unsanitary practices and risked cross-contamination with shellfish, to which Lee said he’s allergic.

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The accounts became wilder and more embellished, and what had seem like cross-corroboration now seemed a clear case of cross-contamination.

From

The US Food and Drug Administration recommends cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.

From

cross-contaminate cross-correlation

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