Guidelines for Specimen Handling

The following are definitions as they pertain to the transportation of potentially infectious blood and other bodily fluids and/or other contaminated items (such as surgical equipment), between facilities.

Pathogens:  

Microorganisms capable of causing disease in humans.  Examples: bacteria & viruses.

Blood-born Pathogens:  

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  

Other Potentially Infectious Materials:  

The following human body fluids are considered potentially infectious: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids, and any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead).  

Universal precautions:  

An approach to infection control. According to the concept of Universal Precautions, all human blood, body fluids, organs, and tissues are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other blood borne pathogens.  

Clinical Laboratory:  

A workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are performed on blood or other potentially infectious materials. (Examples: hospital labs, reference labs,  and tissue and blood centers.)

Research Laboratory:  

A laboratory producing or using HIV or HBV including the use research animals. (Example: Southwest Research Institute's studies on monkeys and baboons for HIV research)  

Contaminated:  

The presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface. 

Contaminated Sharps:  

Any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, and broken test tubes.  

Other Potentially contaminated items:  

Any instrument or equipment used during surgery or any procedure where the instrument or equipment has been contaminated with blood. (Catheters, I.V.'s, etc.)  

Decontamination:  

The use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood borne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.