1.
All work with specimens of human origin, whether teaching or research, requires prior approval from the SDSU Institutional Biosafety Committee
(IBC).
2.
All material of human origin should be treated as potentially infectious, irrespective of HIV, HBV, or HCV status. The biosafety level for all human source materials is designated as Biosafety Level 2.
3.
Work with human material must be carried out in designated areas as approved by the IBC.
4.
The universal biohazard signs and labels shall be displayed at specific laboratories in which manipulations of specimens or organisms with moderate and heavy risk are being carried out. Only authorized visitors shall enter the laboratory showing the universal biohazard sign. Doors displaying the biohazard symbol shall not be propped open, but shall remain closed when in use. Complete and submit the Biohazard Signage Request Form to
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) for signs and labels.
5.
Mechanical pipetting, not mouth pipetting must be used for the manipulation of all liquids in the laboratory. Various important precautions that must be taken while pipetting are:
~ Develop pipetting techniques that reduce the potential for creating aerosols.
~ Avoid rapid mixing of liquids by alternate suction and expulsion.
~ Do not forcibly expel material from a pipette.
~ Do not bubble air through liquids with a pipette.
~ Prefer pipettes that do not require expulsion of last drop of liquid.
~ Drop material having pathogenic organisms as close as possible to the fluid or agar level.
~ Dispose of contaminated pipette in a red biohazard bag or place contaminated pipette in a container having suitable disinfectant for complete immersion.
6.
The practices which are recommended for hypodermic needle and syringes are:
~ Avoid quick and unnecessary movements of the hand holding the syringe.
~ Examine glass syringes for chips and cracks, and examine needles for barbs and plugs.
~ Use needle locking syringes only and be sure that needle is locked securely.
~ Fill syringes carefully to minimize air bubbles and frothing.
~ Expel excess air, liquid and bubbles vertically into a cotton pledget moistened with suitable disinfectant.
~ Do not use syringe to forcefully expel infectious fluid into an open vial for
EHS, SDSU Rev. 04/2010

mixing. Mixing with a syringe is appropriate only if the needle is held below the surface of the fluid in the tube.
~ Do not bend, shear, recap or remove the needle from syringe by hand.
~ Place used needle-syringe units directly into a puncture-resistant container and decontaminate before disassembly, reuse or disposal.
7.
Eating, drinking, smoking and storage of food or drink is prohibited in the laboratory or in any designated areas.
8.
Laboratory coats or gowns must be worn while working with human material, and removed when leaving the laboratory. Garments known or are suspected to have been contaminated with human tissue / specimen must be autoclaved before laundering.
9.
Disposable gloves must be worn to avoid skin contact with blood or other fluids, as well as surfaces, materials and objects exposed to them. Gloves must be removed on completion of laboratory tasks, when using a telephone or when performing any office work.
10.
Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water following completion of laboratory activities, following removal of protective clothing and before leaving the laboratory, and immediately if they become contaminated with blood or body fluids.
11.
Procedures that produce aerosols, such as sonication, mixing, washing, etc, should be avoided in the open laboratory. Where this is not possible appropriate procedures and techniques should be discussed with the IBC.
12.
Any centrifugation of materials must be done in sealed tubes inside a sealed centrifuge.
13.
Sharps instruments such as scalpel blades, as well as needles and syringes, must be placed in rigid-walled puncture-proof “Sharps” containers for disposal by the contaminated waste disposal service. Needles must be discarded unsheathed immediately after use.
14.
Glassware must be decontaminated by soaking in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution or by autoclaving before washing.
15.
Waste contaminated with human material (non-sharps) must be placed in red biohazard bags.
16.
Work surfaces must be decontaminated with sodium hypochlorite solution or in the case of metal surface, 70% ethanol, following any spill of potentially infectious material, and routinely when work is finished. Ensure that contact time and other circumstances allow the disinfectant to be effective.
17.
Any accidents involving materials of human origin, in particular skin punctures or splashes to the face, must be reported immediately to the Principal
Investigator who will inform the Biosafety Officer.
EHS, SDSU Rev. 04/2010

18.
All workers handling human specimens are recommended to have a vaccination against Hepatitis B virus. Contact EH&S at 619-594-2865 for Hep
B Vaccination.
19.
Any taking of human blood samples must be done in a designated room following approval from the IBC. Blood should not be taken in places where there are microbiological, chemical or radiation hazards or where the preparation or consumption of food/drink is taking place. Laboratories will generally be unsuitable places for taking blood. All blood extraction shall take place in rooms specifically equipped for the purpose. Suitable seating, appropriate screens, appropriate washing facilities, biohazard sharps container and red biohazard bags shall be available.
20.
An impervious worktop and handwashing facilities should be available. The room should be easy to decontaminate after a spillage. Material to clear up a spillage and to decontaminate the parts of the room affected should be readily available.
EHS, SDSU Rev. 04/2010