Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) are pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted when blood or bodily fluid from an infected person enters another person's body via needle-stick, human bites, cuts, abrasions, or through mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose or mouth.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has determined that certain employees, particularly health care and clinical laboratory employees, face a significant health risk as a result of occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) because they may contain Bloodborne pathogens. Human derived materials that may have the potential to harbor Bloodborne pathogens include....
- Human blood
- Semen
- Vaginal secretions
- Cerebral spinal fluid
- Pleural fluid
- Pericardial fluid
- Amniotic fluid
- Saliva
- Any unfixed organ or tissue from a human (living or dead)
- Blood, organs, tissues from experimental animals infected with BBP
- Any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood and all body fluids where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids
- Primary human cell cultures and human cell lines
- Non-human primate blood and other fluids from them described above
To minimize or eliminate the risk of occupational exposure, OSHA issued the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. This standard prescribes the actions that employers must take to reduce the risk of exposure to BBP in the work place. The standard applies to all employees and personnel with occupational exposure to blood, tissues and OPIM.
As required by OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, SBU maintains a Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan that details training, PPE, vaccinations, incident reporting and other provisions of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
Individuals working with, or potentially exposed to blood, body fluids and OPIM should practice "Universal Precautions." This principle states that all human blood and other body fluids are to be treated as if they are known to be infectious for HIV, HBC, HVC, and other bloodborne pathogens. All work with these human derived materials is to be conducted under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) containment or higher.
Prior to beginning work with human blood, body fluids, or OPIM (or the potential to be exposed to such materials) individuals must complete Bloodborne Pathogen Safety training available from EH&S and offered through the Safety Managment System (SMS) (Course - EOS 004). This training is required on an annual basis.