Criteria for Determining the Risk
of Occupational Exposure to
Human Blood and Blood Borne Pathogens

Does the worker ever:

• handle human blood products, such as whole blood, palsma, serum, platelets, or white cells

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• handle human body fluids such as semen, cerebrospinal fluid, vaginal secretions, joint fluid, plueral fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, or amniotic fluid?

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• work with animals, such as primates that are infected with hepatitis B or other bloodborne pathogens OR perform tasks where such animals are housed?

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• handle unfixed human tissue or organs? (Tissues and organs soaked in chemical preservatives such as alcohol or formaldehyde are ÒfixedÓ)

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• work with hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens or with preparations, such as liquid solutions or powders containing the hepatitis B virus?

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• handle blood, blood products, body fluids or unfixed tissues or organs of animals infected with the hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens?

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• handle sharp instruments such as knives, needles, scalpels, or scissors which have been used by others working with human blood or other potentially infectious materials to include human organs, tissue or body fluids OR used by others working with similarbody parts and fluids from animals infected with the hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens?

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• enter areas where other individuals work with human or animal blood, body fluid, tissues or organs which are infected with the hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens AND perform tasks where any of the forementioned body substances may come into contact with the laboratory workerÕs unbroken skin, broken skin, or mucous membranes?

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• perform tasks which may potentially result in the lab workers exposed skin or mucous membranes coming in contact with human or animal blood, body fluids, organs, or tissues which are infected with the hepatitis B virus or other bloodborne pathogens?

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If the answer to ANY of the above questions is yes, then the worker is considered to be at occupational risk of contracting hbv or other bloodborne pathogens. If the worker is at risk: The worker should take the Initial Blood Borne Pathogen Training Online and contact the Biosafety Officer.

NOTE: Whether at apparent occupational risk or not, all employees are eligible to receive hepatitis B vaccinations at no cost as part of the Stanford University HBV Immunization Program. Call the Stanford Biosafety Office, 725-1473 for more information.

Biosafety