Environmental Health and Safety

Biosafety Program

Biosafety Guidelines:

Health and Safety Guidelines on Drawing Human Blood

Millie Tran, Biosafety Officer, 619-594-2865 <mdizon@mail.sdsu.edu>

Health and Safety Guidance on Drawing Human Blood and Its Subsequent Use in Research (including projects undertaken by postgraduate and undergraduate students)

1. Blood from veins should be taken only by those who have been properly trained in phlebotomy and who have received written authorization from the department chair. The department should maintain a register of those who have been authorized.
   
   
2. Prospective donors of blood should be recruited on the basis of informed consent and good ethical principles.
   
   
3. Blood should not be taken in places where there are microbiological, chemical or radiation hazards or where the preparation or consumption of food / drink is taking place. Laboratories will generally be unsuitable places for taking blood. All blood extraction shall take place in rooms specifically equipped for the purpose. A suitable seating, appropriate screens, appropriate washing facilities, biohazard sharps bins and biohazard bags shall be available.
   
   
4. When finger prick blood samples are taken:
   • The authorized person taking blood should wear a clean laboratory coat and gloves.
   • Work over an absorbent paper with plastic backing. If soiled, dispose of all contaminated material in a red biohazard bag.
   • Wipe the fingertip with a prepacked swab when provided. Allow to air dry thoroughly.
   • Take out a new lancet from its sterile plastic holder.
   • Sharply jab the lancet into the disinfected finger tip.
   • Dispose of the used lancet in the red sharps biohazard container.
   • Squeeze out single blood drop and transfer it to the test strip or capillary tube to obtain a reading.
   • Wipe off finger with swab. Discard swab in a red biohazard bag.
   • If bleeding has not completely stopped, cover wound with a BandAid.
   • Dispose of all test strips or capillary tubes when finished in the red sharps biohazard container.
   
   
   
5. An impervious worktop and handwashing facilities should be available. The room should be easy to decontaminate after a spillage. Material to clean up a spillage and to decontaminate the parts of the room affected should be readily available.
   
   
6. The authorized person taking blood should wear a clean laboratory coat and gloves.
   
   
7. Human blood, even if from apparently healthy individuals, should be treated as potentially infectious and should be handled at Biosafety Level 2 containment unless a risk assessment indicates that a higher level of containment is required.
   
   
8. Anyone taking blood or otherwise handling unscreened blood should, where feasible, have been vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Health and Safety Guidance on the Use of Human Blood in a Student Laboratory Class

1. Students shall use specimens of their own blood (e.g. taken by finger prick) in laboratory classes. Students should not handle specimens of blood from other students unless the blood has been treated so as to inactivate blood borne viruses.
   
   
2. When finger prick blood samples are taken:
   • Wash hands with medicated soap and water.
   • Work over the paper towel provided. If soiled, dispose of all contaminated material in the red biohazard bag.
   • Wipe the fingertip with a prepacked swab when provided. Allow to air dry thoroughly.
   • Take out a new lancet from its sterile plastic holder.
   • Sharply jab the lancet into the disinfected finger tip.
   • Dispose of the used lancet in the red sharps biohazard container.
   • Squeeze out single blood drop and transfer it to the test strip or capillary tube to obtain a reading.
   • Wipe off finger with swab. Discard swab in red biohazard bag.
   • If bleeding has not completely stopped, cover wound with a BandAid.
   • Dispose of all test strips or capillary tubes when finished in the red sharps biohazard container.