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The following excerpt has been provided by OSHA.
"OSHA estimates that 5.6
million workers in the health care industry and related occupations are at risk
of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV)
and others.
All occupational exposure to blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials
(OPIM) place workers at risk for infection with bloodborne pathogens. OSHA
defines blood to mean human blood, human blood components, and products made
from human blood. Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) means:
- The following human blood fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal
fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid, 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
containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other
tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV."
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