Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms found in human blood that can cause illness in humans.  The most common ones are Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV - the virus that causes AIDS).  Persons who work in the health care field, laboratory personnel handling human blood or tissues, and emergency response personnel are just some occupations where exposure to bloodborne pathogens is possible.  Proper work practices, the use of PPE, and training can help prevent exposure to these organisms.

Faculty, staff and students who may reasonably anticipate skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral (under the skin) contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials during the performance of their job duties are covered under the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Program.

Potentially infectious materials include:

• All human blood and body fluids;
• Any unfixed tissue or organ other than intact skin from a human, living or dead;
• Human cell lines or cultures, human tissue cultures, human organ cultures;
• Non-human primate blood, bodily fluids or other tissues;
• Liquid or solid culture medium or other materials containing biologicial agents capable of causing disease in healthy adults;
• Blood, body fluids or other tissues from experimental animals infected with bloodborne pathogens;
• Liquid or solid culture medium or other materials containing or potentially contaminated with recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules.

All University faculty and staff who are occupationally exposed to bloodborne pathogens are required to complete Bloodborne Pathogen training annually. Please email ehs@radford.edu to get enrolled in the appropriate training.

Hepatitis B virus vaccination is recommended for all faculty and staff who are exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Those who consent to vaccination will receive it at no cost. Opportunities for receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination are covered in the Bloodborne Pathogens Training.