scope:

This guide provides direction for implementing the requirements of the Revised OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. It is limited to devices related to specimen collection and clinical laboratory testing. It will provide guidance for medical centers and hospitals, as well as for reference and physician office laboratories.

While it is well understood that sharps such as needles are responsible for many injuries, it is very important to understand that, in the clinical laboratory, there are other devices that have the potential of causing injury. Though not an inclusive list, devices that have the potential for causing injury include:

- phlebotomy needles

- syringe needles used in the laboratory and used for drawing blood

- winged blood collection sets

- glass capillary tubes

- glass blood collection tubes

- glass test tubes

- glass pipettes

- glass slides

- instrument probes

- scalpels used in the laboratory

- lancets - microtome blades.