Working with human material - Kunnskapsbasen
Working with human material
Working with human material (blood, cells, tissue, autopsy materials) can cause infection of diseases like hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Norsk versjon - Arbeid med humant materiale
Topic page about HSE | Pages labelled with HSE
Preventing infection
The risk of being infected during work with human materials is significantly reduced by following established procedures for organisation of work, good hygiene, use of working clothes, gloves and other personal protective equipment in accordance with instructions, and by following the recommended vaccination program.
Safety
The unit should perform risk assessments of activities that might carry risks of human injury. The unit must implement measures to remove or control the risks. Such measures may include specific procedures, use of personal protective equipment, training and vaccination.
Accidents
Blood spills on workbenches and equipment
Use disposable gloves. Wipe up as much blood as possible using paper towels. Clean the surface with a chlorine solution. If larger quantities of blood have been spilled: Cover the surface with paper towels and soak with dilute chlorine (1:3) or concentrated chlorine. Let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
If this procedure is practically impossible, clean thoroughly with a chlorine solution with no action time, or with a 70% disinfectant.
Dispose of paper etc. used for cleaning, other paper and blood-stained gloves in a plastic bag. Close the bag and dispose as biological material. Finally, clean with a regular cleaning agent.
Use common sense and what you know about infection pathways. Always think of the people who will be taking over for you: the cleaners at your workplace and the employees at the incineration plant.
Blood spills on humans/needle stick injuries
A virus must penetrate the skin or the mucous membrane for an infection to happen. If the skin is intact, there is no danger of infection. The transmission of viruses from blood most commonly occurs through accidental contact with used needles, injuries from blood stained objects or blood spills on damaged skin, wounds or eczema.
Spills on damaged/sore skin (cracks, tears, eczema)
- Rinse with tepid water for 10 minutes.
- Disinfect with a wound-cleansing agent.
Sprays on eye or mouth mucous membrane
- Rinse with tepid water for 10 minutes.
Needle sticks, cuts
In case of spontaneous bleeding from the wound:
- Squeeze gently above the wound to cause further bleeding.
- Rinse and clean the wound well using soap and water.
- Disinfect with a wound-cleansing agent.
In case of no spontaneous bleeding from the wound:
- Do not squeeze.
- Rinse and clean the wound well using soap and water. Rinse with tepid water for 10 minutes.
- Disinfect with a wound-cleansing agent.
Follow-up if danger of blood infection
If blood or bodily fluids from a person (the source of infection) enters the circulation of another person (the infected), there is danger of infection. The most relevant viruses that might be transmitted are hepatitis B and C, which can lead to inflammation of the liver, and HIV, which can lead to AIDS.
The chance of being infected is generally low, but it is important to examine this to make sure any infection is discovered and measures are taken. Consequently, the infected person must as quickly as possible (within 48 hours after being pricked) undergo a blood test ("nullprøve"). This blood test is conducted to make sure there is no infection after the accident.
Occupational Health Services (tel. 93 04 15 84) can provide a referral for for a blood test. If you need the referral outside of office hours, contact your general practitioner or the Emergency Department at St. Olavs Hospital.
The results of the test could be available in 1-2 days. New tests will be conducted after 3 and 6 months to monitor any developments. The infected person will be contacted if the tests show that additional measures are required. In case of HIV infection, the HSE department will contact the Department of Infection at St. Olavs Hospital.
The infected person should not give blood or have unprotected sex before the situation is clarified.
If the source of the blood is known, the standard procedure is to take a sample from this person as well. This is voluntary, however, and the person in question can choose to refuse. If the blood test shows that the person is infected with hepatitis and the infected person does not have the vaccine, administration of antibody and vaccination might be necessary. Read about hepatitis (in Norwegian).
Based on current knowledge, the risk of being infected with hepatitis B after being pricked by a cannula containing the hepatitis B virus is 10-30%. The risk of hepatitis C is 3-5%. The risk of being infected with HIV is less that 0.3%.
Remember to report the incident: Speak up!
Health examination and vaccine
Persons working with human materials in a manner that facilitates infection, must attend a health examination. Fill out and bring the health examination (pdf) and the vaccine form (pdf).
Contact
NTNU in Ålesund
- Avonova (formerly Stamina), (phone 70 15 25 50) for assessment by a doctor and taking blood samles.
- Outside the occupational health services working hours, contact your GP or medical watch (tel. 116 117).
- Results of samples may be available after 1-2 days. New samples are taken after 3 and 6 months to follow the development. The infected person will be contacted if the samples show the need for following-up.
- For professionals: Meldeskjema for blodsmitteuhell (In Norwegian).
NTNU in Gjøvik
A blood sample of the wounded must be taken within 48 hours. A blood sample should also be taken from the person from whom the blood infection originates, but this is voluntary (see more information in the section "Follow-up if there is a risk of blood infection").
- The blood sample must be taken either at the GP (during normal working hours), or in the emergency room in the evening, night, weekend. If the employee or student who is not exposed to the sting does not have a GP in Gjøvik municipality (GP far away), you can call the emergency service 116 117 (staffs also during normal working hours).
- The person who had a blood sample taken must ask for an answer from the doctor requesting the blood sample.
- The person must inform the company health service Falck Helse for further follow-up. This is done by calling the customer center on telephone 974 09 090. (There, the victim is registered for the incident as well as a plan for further follow-up and dates).
Follow-up of vaccination against Hepatitis B after wounds/ blood spills can also take place at Falck Health. It is vaccinated at 0, 1, 2 and 12 months, a total of 4 vaccines. Vaccination should be started as soon as possible after exposure. NOTE: Vaccination can have an effect even if it is started weeks after the lstab wound.
Falck Helse does not have the opportunity to assist with the first dose that should be taken within 48 hours. The injured person must therefore go to a GP during the day, or an emergency room as described above.
Aktimed assists with further follow-up, both in terms of vaccination and blood tests. The injured party contacts the Falck Helse Customer Center on telephone 974 09 090.
NTNU i Trondheim
- Occupational Health Services (phone 93 04 15 84)
- Foreign employees and students without a Norwegian ID-number: Contact Gløshaugen legesenter, phone number +47 73 59 32 80, Richard Birkelands vei 5 at NTNU Gløshaugen. Once you have a Norwegian ID-number you can contact your general practitioner.
- Outside the occupational health services working hours, contact your GP or medical watch (tel. 116 117).
- Results of samples may be available after 1-2 days. New samples are taken after 3 and 6 months to follow the development. The infected person will be contacted if the samples show the need for following-up.
Help
- Biological factors (in Norwegian) - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- First aid equipment (in Norwegian) - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Climate and air quality in the workplace - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- The laboratory, safety and working environment (in Norwegian) - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Respiratory protective devices (in Norwegian) - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Vaccination guide for health personnel (in Norwegian)
NTNU regulations
- Laboratory and workshop handbook
- HSE-process
- Risk assessment
- Room cards
- Biological agents
- Working with biological agents
- Hazardous waste
- Medical examination
- Medical examination form
- Report accidents and near misses/ Speak up!
- Vaccinations
- Vaccination form
Legislation
- The Working Environment Act (in Norwegian)
- Law governing the manufacturing and use of genetically modified organisms (in Norwegian) (Genetic Engineering law) - Ministry of the Environment
- Regulations concerning Organisation, Management and Employee Participation, chapters 7 and 15 - the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- The Workplace Regulations, chapters 5 and 8 - the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Regulations concerning the Performance of Work, chapters 2, 3, 6 and 8 - the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Regulations concerning Action and Limit Values, chapter 5 and annex 2 - the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Regulation on infectious waste (in Norwegian) - the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
Contact
- Occupational Health Service
- NTNU in Trondheim: Ann Krisitn Sjaastad, Occupational hygienist
- NTNU in Gjøvik: Lise M. Konow Linnerud, HSE-adviser
- NTNU in Ålesund: Harald Jan Skarstein, senior adviser
Approval/signature
Approved by Director of HSE - August 28th 2015 - HMSR05E - ePhorte 2016/3901
Last edited 20.10.2020