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).  BBP 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 many individuals—including healthcare workers, laboratory staff, custodians, maintenance workers, and other non-laboratory employees—may face a significant health risk from occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

• Human blood
• Semen
• Vaginal secretions
• Cerebral spinal fluid
• Pleural fluid
• Pericardial fluid
• Amniotic fluid
• Saliva (especially in dental procedures)
• Any unfixed organ or tissue from a human (living or dead)
• Blood, organs, tissues from experimental animals infected with BBP
• Any bodily fluid visibly contaminated with blood, or where it is difficult to distinguish the fluid type
• Primary human cell cultures and human cell lines
• Non-human primate blood and other fluids from them described above

To reduce the risk of exposure, OSHA issued the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). This standard requires employers to implement protections such as training, personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccinations, and incident reporting procedures. The standard applies to all individuals with occupational exposure to blood, tissues, or OPIM.

At Stony Brook University (SBU), the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan details compliance with OSHA standards and ensures protections for laboratory personnel, healthcare workers, custodians, maintenance staff, and other individuals who may be exposed during their job duties.

All individuals should follow the principle of Universal Precautions—treating all human blood and body fluids as potentially infectious for HIV, HBV, HCV, and other pathogens. Laboratory and research work with these materials must be performed under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) or higher containment.

Before beginning work—or in any role with a reasonable chance of exposure—individuals must complete Bloodborne Pathogen Safety Training through Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) in the Brightspace System. 

This training is required annually:

• Course EOS 004 BBP for laboratory individuals
• Course EOS 052 BBP for non-laboratory individuals (custodial, maintenance, and other staff)