Potential for laboratory exposures to biohazardous agents found in blood

The magnitude of risk for occupational exposures to biohazardous agents found in blood was assessed by 800 environmental samples taken from a total of 10 clinical and research laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thirty-one samples from 11 work stations in three laboratories cont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 1990-04, Vol.80 (4), p.423-427
Main Authors: Evans, M R, Henderson, D K, Bennett, J E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood
Environmental Exposure
Hazardous Substances
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - isolation & purification
hepatitis B virus
Humans
Infections
Laboratories
Laboratory Infection - prevention & control
Medical Laboratory Science - standards
National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
Occupational safety
Public health
Risk
United States
Work stations
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Summary:The magnitude of risk for occupational exposures to biohazardous agents found in blood was assessed by 800 environmental samples taken from a total of 10 clinical and research laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thirty-one samples from 11 work stations in three laboratories contained hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Observations of workers indicated that environmental contamination arose from several sources. Among the 11 work stations with HBsAg environmental samples, eight had high work loads, seven had inappropriate behaviors, and nine had flawed laboratory techniques. This information suggests that a multifactorial approach is needed to minimize the risk of laboratory-associated infections.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.80.4.423