Standard Operating Procedure for exposure to blood and other body fluids, bites, scratches, and needle punctures

  1. Purpose This procedure outlines what to do in event of a medical emergency.
  2. Scope This procedure applies to all CM-LAF and Investigator staff with animal involvement.
  3. Procedure
    1. Wash affected area immediately with soap and water. For contaminant exposure to the eyes, the eyes should be flushed with sterile saline for 15 minutes (or water if the sterile saline solution is unavailable).
    2. The employee should immediately notify his/her supervisor of any accident, injury, or exposure incident. Supervisors are encouraged to gather as much information as possible regarding the incident. This would include, at minimum, an investigation of the animal, potential contaminants, nature of the research project, and other pertinent data. All incidents must be reported to Mr. Jorge Velasco, Dr. Lisa Martin or Ms. Linda Herter at 829-2919.

      Note: All supervisory personnel should be familiar with the contents of the University's Biosafety Exposure Control Plan, especially chapter 11 which is titled "Emergency Information".
    3. Call Mr. Robert Neidemeyer at ECMC Emergency Room to report the incident, phone 898-4153, 898-4169 or cell, 860-1455. Tell them you are an employee with an injury, and make arrangements to be seen by a health care provider immediately. Proceed to ECMC Emergency Care. Upon arrival, tell the ER nurse who you are and that you want to see Mr. Neidemeyer.
    4. The supervisor should report the incident to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (829-3751). Ask for Richard Lobaugh, Accident Prevention Specialist.
    5. Any animal involved in a bite or scratch incident will be placed on a ten-day quarantine. The veterinarian or veterinary technicians will place a card on the cage that states "Quarantined - Do Not Euthanatize For Ten Days". The card should also specify the date of the incident and the ten-day ending date. The veterinary staff will monitor and record the health status of the animal while on quarantine.
    6. Bite wounds, scratches, or needle punctures from contaminated needles involving nonhuman primates must be cultured. The supervisor should contact the veterinarian or veterinary technicians immediately, at 829-2919, so that virology cultures and serum samples can be taken. Erie County Medical Center will draw the employee's baseline serum. See SOP 3.A.1.