This includes blending, sonicating, vigorous mixing (vortexing), and homogenization.

Biological safety cabinets are not needed for other routine work. Other primary containment devices (e.g., centrifuge safety cups) should be used when manipulating cultured or concentrated infectious organisms outside a biological safety cabinet.

Mouth pipetting must not be done. Mechanical pipetting devices must be used in the laboratory.

Laboratory work surfaces are decontaminated after a spill of blood or body fluid and upon completion of the work activity.

Items that become contaminated as a result of laboratory tests may be decontaminated after use or prior to disposal.  Materials that are to be decontaminated at a site away from the laboratory should be placed in a leak proof, rigid biohazard container,  which is closed before being removed from the laboratory.  If the outside of the container is contaminated, it should be enclosed in a second clean external container. Contaminated clothing should be processed according to institutional policy.

Laboratory equipment should be cleaned and decontaminated prior to being repaired or transported to the manufacturer.

All persons should wash their hands after leaving the laboratory.  Protective clothing should be removed before leaving the laboratory.

Personal Protection

Barrier Protection must be used to prevent skin and mucous membrane contamination with blood, body fluids containing visible blood, or other body fluids and tissues to which universal precautions apply.  The type of barrier protection used should be appropriate for the type of procedure being performed and the type of exposure anticipated.

OSHA and CDC propose that gloves be worn when there is potential or hand skin contact with blood, other potentially  infectious material, or surfaces contaminated with these materials.  Gloves should be worn when:

• Performing routine laboratory work with blood, potentially infectious body fluids, and tissues.
• Touching mucous membranes and non-intact skin of patients.
• Handling items (potentially) contaminated with blood or body fluids, including specimen containers, laboratory instruments, counter tops, etc.

Take extraordinary care to avoid accidental injuries (as caused by needles, scalpel blades or laboratory instruments, etc.) when performing procedures, cleaning instruments, handling sharp instruments,  and disposing of use needles.  Place used needles, disposable syringes, skin lancets, scalpel blades, and other sharp items into a puncture-resistant biohazard container (sharps container) for disposal.

The container should be located as close as possible to the work area. 

Phlebotomists should carry puncture-resistant containers with them.

To prevent needle stick injuries, needles must not be recapped, purposely bent, cut, broken, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated  by hand.

Special Considerations

Since all clinical specimens are to  be treated as infectious, laboratory workers should follow Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) practices when handling clinical specimens, blood, body fluids, or tissues.

BSL-2 procedures and practices incorporate Universal Precautions and for practices Biosafety Level

• Laboratory space should be sufficient to minimize crowding, which may contribute to laboratory accidents.
• Laboratory surfaces, counters, and floors should be made of impervious materials to facilitate disinfection.
• Good laboratory practices must be followed. Eating, drinking, and smoking are not permitted in the laboratory.  Direct and indirect hand-to-face contact should be avoided.
• Biohazard containers for disposal of contaminated materials must be provided.
• Adequate decontaminating containers for reusable supplies should be provided.
• Written decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization protocols should be developed for processing reusable supplies, laboratory equipment, laboratory waste, machine effluent, and environmental surfaces. 
• OSHA requires that written protocols be developed and enforced.
• Facilities for hand washing must be provided in each laboratory area.
• Only authorized personnel are allowed in the laboratory. Casual visitors should not be admitted.  Non laboratory personnel are closely supervised and taught to use appropriate protective measures to ensure that they do not cause a hazard to themselves or to the laboratory staff.

Implementing universal precautions eliminates the need for using specific warning labels on all specimens obtained from patients infected with HBV or HIV.  Whether warning labels are used or not, all specimens must be treated as if infectious and capable of transmitting serious infection.

In addition, each work area must keep an Emergency Notification Sign posted on the entry doors This sign lists the names of persons who should be contacted in the event of any emergency involving the work site.  While this Emergency Notification Sign may not specifically include a place for off hours telephone, these numbers should be included whenever possible. It is important that the names appearing on the list have telephone numbers beside the name, that the room number and supervisor's name are filled in at the top.  This information is to be reviewed and updated annually.

The use of radioactive or chemically hazardous substances in the work area also require special signs.

Signs which prohibit smoking, eating, drinking, etc. are to be posted in areas where work is conducted.

Eye protection is required in all areas where there is a splash potential to the eye. Safety glasses for visitors must also be available.

Signs indicating the location of fire blankets, safety showers, fire extinguisher, and other safety devices are also required.

Entrances to laboratories, storage areas, and associated facilities must have signs as necessary to warn other researchers, visitors, emergency personnel, custodians, etc. of radio-active, biological, or chemical hazards which may be present.

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