Biohazard Spill Response
- Alert people in the immediate area. Close doors if possible. For spill inside a biosafety cabinet, leave cabinet running.
- Wear appropriate PPE (gloves, lab coat/gown, eye protection).
- Cover the spill with paper towels or other absorbent materials.
- Pour an appropriate decontamination agent (for example: fresh 1:10 dilution of bleach) into the absorbent materials and leave for 15-20 minutes.
- Wipe up the spill, working from the edges into the center.
- Place towels/materials into a biohazardous waste bag.
- Repeat, then rinse area with water.
- Remove PPE (disposing as biohazardous waste or decontaminate) and wash hands.
Notify PI and for large spills (>100mls) notify EHS at 216-368-2907.
Biohazard Exposure Response
First Aid
- Skin exposure or needlestick - wash with soap and water for 15 min
- Eye exposure - rinse eyes at eye wash station for 15 min
Medical Help
- Emergency assistance dial 216-368-3333.
- Contact University Health and Counseling Services at 216-368-2450 or go to University Hospitals Emergency Room (11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland OH 44106)
- Note: any exposure to human blood should be medically evaluated within 72hrs due to the possibility of exposure to unknown bloodborne pathogens
Reporting
- Notify EHS after performing first aid and getting medical help at 216-368-2907
- The illness or Injury Report form must be completed
- Spills and Exposures involving organisms containing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules must be reported to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Institutional Biosafety Committee at case-ibc@case.edu
Additional details and information can be found in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Biosafety Manual.
Lentivirus and Lentiviral Vector Post Exposure Plan
Lentiviruses, such as HIV, can cause chronic and deadly disease in people and animals. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are viruses that have been modified to deliver novel genes to cells and have been designed to allow for cargo-carrying function without concern of re-creating an infectious virus. However, LVs can still pose significant health risks to exposed researchers.
In the event of an exposure:
First Aid: follow procedures above for exposures
Medical Evaluation:
- Exposures must be medically evaluated within 2-72hrs of exposure
- Contact University Health and Counseling at 216.368.2450
- If after hours, go to University Hospitals Emergency Department (ED) for evaluation
- Medical Evaluation may include the following:
- Baseline HIV testing (may effect PEP, exposure risk)
- Post Exposure Prophylaxis (if recommended)
Post Exposure Prophylaxis: will be based on the risk posed by the lentivirus and the insertional risk (transgene). You should provide the details of the lentivirus vector to the medical staff.
Reporting: follow procedures above for exposures