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Guidance for clinical health care workers: protection against infection with blood-borne viruses

Recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis

This booklet contains guidance on measures to protect clinical health care workers (HCWs) against occupational infection with blood-borne viruses (BBVs). It is based on the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis. It draws also on work done by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and the Microbiology Advisory Committee.

The booklet may also be used as a basis for drawing up guidelines for those in allied occupations, e.g. persons dealing with contaminated equipment, who may be exposed occupationally to a risk of BBV infection. Some advice is given on the disposal of clinical waste, and the labelling and transport of specimens which have implications for the safety of others. Adherence to the recommendations will also provide protection from BBV infection to patients and other persons present in the health care setting.

This document covers known BBVs including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are practical advantages in adopting common infection control policies to prevent the transmission of BBVs, and this is reflected in the guidance.

• Download guidance (PDF, 96K)
• HSC 1998/063: Guidance for clinical health care workers - protection against infection with blood-borne viruses
• Policy and guidance on blood-borne viruses