Program overview
UCSD's Bloodborne Pathogens Program protects employees who can reasonably anticipate being exposed to bloodborne pathogens (BBP) while performing their job duties. (Read the definition of BBP and other terms used in this program.)
Administered by Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), the program describes institutional, principal investigator, supervisor, and employee responsibilities for:
Requirements
Requirements for implementing the BBP program are different for laboratory, non-laboratory (emergency responders and sports trainers), and healthcare personnel. Read program requirements for each group below.
Laboratory Personnel
Principal investigators with employees who may be exposed to BBPs must:
Non-laboratory Personnel
Supervisors of non-laboratory personnel who may reasonably be expected to be exposed to BBPs as part of their normal duties must:
Healthcare Personnel
UCSD Medical Center facilities have location specific Exposure Control Plans and training crafted for the patient care environment.
- Contact the Medical Center Safety Office, (619) 543-7575, for more information.
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Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccination is strongly recommended for employees who have occupational exposure to BBP. The vaccination is provided at no cost to the employee by UCSD Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM).
During initial BBP training, employees receive information about the vaccine and are provided with a Hepatitis B Acceptance/Declination form. Employees must complete, sign, and return the form to EH&S.
After completion of the 3-dose Hepatitis B vaccination series, a blood test to check the Hepatitis B surface antibody titer is strongly recommended to confirm immunity and is available at no cost to the employee.
If an employee initially declines vaccination, the vaccination remains available if at a later date the employee decides to accept the vaccination while still having occupational exposure to BBP.
Additional resources on Hepatitis B and the Hepatitis B vaccine:
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Exposure Procedures
Report all exposure incidents immediately. See the Emergency Guide for Needlestick/Exposure to Blood & Body Fluids protocol.
Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up
Confidential medical evaluation and follow-up is available immediately for employees potentially exposed during an incident involving BBP.
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Definitions
- Blood refers to human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.
- Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and other potentially infectious materials that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Other potentially infectious materials include human tissue and body fluids:
- Semen
- Vaginal secretions
- Cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and amniotic fluids
- Saliva in dental procedures
- Any other body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood
- All undifferentiated body fluids in emergency response situations
- Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human
- Human cell, tissue, or organ cultures
- Experimental animals with human xenografts
- Human body fluids not generally covered by the BBP unless they contain visible blood or cannot be reliably identified:
- Feces
- Nasal secretions
- Sputum
- Sweat
- Tears
- Urine
- Vomit
- Saliva
Related policies
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Questions? Contact EH&S Biosafety, (858) 534-5366.
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