Work with Human Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (Including Human Cell Lines)
Work with human blood, unfixed tissues, certain fluids, and cell lines* is regulated by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). Research personnel and other employees who may have the potential for exposure (occupational) to these materials must receive Bloodborne Pathogen and Biosafety Training for Research Personnel (log-in) BEFORE they initiate research activities with any of these materials.
OSHA requires that all employees receive retraining annually. Your annual retraining requirement can be fulfilled by completing the online module Bloodborne Pathogens Annual Update Training for Research Personnel (log-in).
*NOTE: Includes non-human primate cell lines (e.g. African Green Monkey kidney cells-- Vero, etc…) Also see the UVA IBC Policy on the Use of Human and Non-Human Primate Cell Lines
Hepatitis B Vaccination
The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccination series must be offered to occupationally exposed employees within 10 days of their initial assignment. The HBV vaccine program is administered through UVA WorkMed free of charge for occupationally exposed employees or students. Employees who decline the Hepatitis B vaccine must sign a statement of declination.
UVA IBC Policy on the Use of Human and Non-Human Primate Cell Lines
Introduction: Human and non-human primate cell lines are commonly used in biomedical research, yet appropriate biosafety requirements for handling these cell lines are often subject to debate within the scientific community. In order to clarify the University's position on this matter, the Institutional Biosafety Committee has created the following policy.
Background: In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Standard to protect employees who have occupational exposure to human blood or other potentially infectious materials. While human blood, most body fluids, unfixed human tissues and organs were clearly included within the scope and application of the standard, the inclusion of human cell lines was ambiguous.
In 1994, OSHA issued an interpretation of the applicability of the BBP Standard towards human cell lines. According to the interpretation, human cell lines are considered to be potentially infectious and within the scope of the BBP Standard unless the specific cell line has been characterized to be free of hepatitis viruses, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, papilloma viruses and other recognized bloodborne pathogens.1 In alignment with this interpretation, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) recommends that all human cell lines be handled using Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) practices and containment.2 Moreover, the Sixth Edition of the CDC publication, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), recommends that human and other primate cells should be handled using BSL-2 practices and containment.3 In consideration of the aforementioned regulatory interpretation and consensus guidelines and other factors, the UVA Institutional Biosafety Committee has adopted the following policy in regards to the use of human and non-human primate cell lines.
Policy: All cell cultures of human or non-human primate* origin, including well established cell lines, shall be handled in accordance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) containment. Research personnel and other employees with potential occupational exposure to these materials must receive Bloodborne Pathogen and Biosafety Training for Research Personnel (log-in) BEFORE they initiate research activities with any of these materials, and OSHA also requires that all employees receive retraining annually. In addition, the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccination series must be offered to occupationally exposed employees within 10 days of their initial assignment. The HBV vaccine program is administered through UVA WorkMed free of charge for occupationally exposed employees or students receiving payment through a stipend. Employees who decline the Hepatitis B vaccine must sign a statement of declination.
*NOTE: Examples of non-human primate cell lines include, but are not limited to, Vero (African Green Monkey kidney) cells, COS-7 (African Green Monkey kidney) cells, LLC-MK2 (Rhesus macaque lung) cells, and RF (Rhesus macaque embryonic fibroblast) cells.
Original policy adopted by unanimous vote of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), December 2003. (Marie-Louise Hammarskjold, IBC Chair)
Most recent IBC review, modification, and approval of this policy was February 2024. (Glynis Kolling, IBC Chair)