Hepatitis B Vaccination
Employees who have routine exposure to human and non-human primate blood, blood products,
cells, tissue and other potentially infectious material shall be offered the Hepatitis B vaccine
series at no cost to themselves unless:
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They have previously received the entire vaccine series
HBV Antibody titer testing has revealed they are immune
The vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. The person has either had HBV, had
a previous reaction to an HBV vaccine injection or is allergic to yeast.
Although your employer must offer the vaccine to you, you do not have to accept that offer. You
may opt to decline the vaccination series, in which case you will be asked to sign a declination
form. Even if you decline the initial offer, you may choose to receive the series at anytime
during your employment thereafter, for example, if your are exposed on the job at a later date.
If you are exposed to blood or potentially infectious materials on the job, you may request a
Hepatitis B vaccination at that time. If the vaccine is administered immediately after exposure it
is extremely effective at preventing the disease.
The Hepatitis B vaccination is given in a series of three intramuscular injections. Over 90% of
healthy adults and over 95% of infants, children, and adolescents (from birth to 19 years of age)
develop adequate antibody responses. The vaccine is 80% to 100% effective in preventing
infection or clinical hepatitis in those who receive the entire course of the vaccine. An
appointment is needed to obtain the first injection. The second injection is given one month after
the first; the third injection follows five months after the second. This series gradually builds up
the body's immunity to the Hepatitis B virus. Once vaccinated, a person does not need to receive
the series again.
The Hepatitis B vaccine does not contain any live virus. The vaccine contains only particles of
HBV called plasmids, which have a gene that codes for the surface antigen to induce the
production of antibodies. These plasmids are grown on yeast cultures Therefore, there is no
danger of contracting the disease from getting the injections since no potentially infectious viral
DNA or complete viral particles are used.
Protective antibodies appear to persist for 11 years or more following immunization. There are
booster shots available and in some instances these may be recommended (for example, if there
is an outbreak of Hepatitis B at a particular location). For adults and children with normal
immune status, booster injections of the vaccine are not recommended, nor is routine HBV
antibody titer testing needed to assess immune status of the vaccine. The need for booster
injections after longer than 11 years will continue to be assessed, as additional information
becomes available.
Exposure to Hazardous Materials
In an emergency situation involving Chemicals, Blood or Potentially Infectious Materials, you
should always use Universal Precautions and try to minimize your exposure by:
 Laboratory Coat
 Wearing gloves for handling of Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material
 Wearing Double layer Nitrile gloves for handling of chemicals
 Splash goggles
 Other barrier devices.
For puncture wounds, bites and scratches:
 You want to remove any contaminated PPE immediately. Wash the affected area
thoroughly with soap & water for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. Use non-abrasive,
antibacterial soap if possible. However, the type of soap is not as important as the time,
washing and rinsing. If necessary, control bleeding by applying direct pressure sterile
gauze or bandage
For body and extremities exposure:
 You want to remove all contaminated clothing and PPE immediately. Wash affected area
thoroughly with running water for a minimum of 15-20 minutes at a deluge shower
For exposure to eyes, nose, mouth or other mucous membrane:
 You want to irrigate the affected area under running water for at least 15 minutes at an
eye wash station.
Reporting Injuries
Any University of Southern California employee who sustains a job related injury while
performing work should immediately report the injury to his/her supervisor, fill out an incident
report (this report is available from your supervisor or from the safety department) and then seek
medical attention at:
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USC Department of Family Medicine - Health Care Consultation Center, 1510 San Pablo St. (323) 442-5900
Ambulatory Health Care Center - Doheny Vision Research Center, 1355 San Pablo St. (323) 442-5100
Faculty/Staff Clinic – Student Health Services, University Park Campus Student Health Center, 849 W. 34th St.
Your Supervisor must complete the "Supervisor's Report of Injury" form and return it to the
Workers' Compensation Office within 24 hours of the date of injury. Your supervisor is required
to investigate the cause of the accident as stated on the report injury and correct any necessary
problems, if applicable. The documentation for the accident investigation and the corrections
must be retained in your home department.
Assistance in the investigation of accidents may be obtained from Risk Management and Career
Services. All serious accidents submitted to the Workers' Compensation Office will be referred
to the Safety Department staff for review.
Initial Medical Attention
The USC medical clinics have a specific set of procedures they will follow for all post-exposure
cases. These are:
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Document the route(s) of exposure & the circumstances under which the exposure incident
occurred.
Evaluate reported injury.
Provide a treatment plan including all necessary medications and/or supplies.
Schedule follow-up appointments.
Provide counseling, if necessary.
Additionally, for needlesticks
 Identify and document the source individual unless such documentation is impossible or
prohibited by law.
 Test the source individual's blood for HBV and HIV as soon as possible after consent is
obtained. If the source individual is known to be seropositive for HBV or HIV, testing for
that virus need not be done.
 Collect your blood as soon feasible, and test it after your consent is obtained.
 (If you consent to baseline blood collection, but do not give consent at that time for HIV
serological testing, your blood sample will be kept for at least 90 days. If, within 90 days
of the incident, you decide to consent to have the baseline sample tested, such testing
shall be done as soon as possible, and at no cost to you.)
 Administer post exposure prophylaxes, when medically indicated, as recommended by
the US Public Health Service.