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Human or Non-human Primate Blood, Tissues or Cell Cultures

For clinical/research work with human or non-human primate

  • blood,
  • body fluids,
  • tissues, or
  • cell cultures – primary/established (even partially tested) lines,
  • animals injected with human primary cells or cell lines,

OSHA (under the Bloodborne Pathogen [BBP] Law) and/or UConn Health safety policy require:

  • documented initial and then annual refresher training
  • documented HBV vaccination and/or adequate HBV antibody titer testing, or a signed declination,
  • observing Standard (Universal) Precautions;  or in the lab, BSL-2; or while working with animals, ABSL-2.
  • following safe needle/syringe practices (see items 4 and 18),
  • following waste requirements (see items 18 and 26),
  • following labeling/signage requirements (see the UCH BBP Exposure Control Plan),
  • use of a biological safety cabinet that has been certified within the last year per BSL-2 requirements (see above – when aerosols may be generated).

To answer most questions about human materials, review the annual training, read the UConn Health Bloodborne Pathogen Control Plan, call EH&S at 860-679-2723 and/or contact the Biological Safety Officer. Note that the BBP Law does not cover non-human primate (NHP) materials, but it is strongly recommended that for your protection, you follow Standard (Universal) Precautions and/or use BSL-2 containment and practices.

Also, you may view the OSHA law and/or the OSHA interpretation of the law regarding cultures of human primary cells and cell lines.

Return to the Biosafety Main Page