Definitions

Blood

Human blood, blood components, and products derived from blood.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited  to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Appendix B - Other Bloodborne Pathogens lists additional bloodborne pathogens.

Exposure Incident

A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee's duties.

Occupational Exposure

Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties.

Other Potentially Infectious Materials

The following body fluids/secretions: semen, vaginal, cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and amniotic; saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible  to differentiate between body fluids. Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead).

HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV/HCV- containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV, HBV or HCV.

Source Individual

Any individual, living or dead, whose blood or other potentially infectious materials may be a source of occupational exposure to the employee.

Appendix C - Universal Precautions

An approach to infection control. All human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens.