FAQ’s

What is a biohazard?

The simple answer is: “Any fluid or matter that is discharged from the body”

Why is it hazardous? Because it may contain a bloodborne pathogen.

About Bloodborne Pathogens

A pathogen is an agent or micro-organism such as bacterium or a virus that can cause disease or prove fatal.  A blood-borne pathogen can be found in blood and other body fluids of a person infected with a virus.
Well known viruses include hepatitis (various) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which is responsible for AIDS. Some viruses can survive for three months or more (depending on the ambient temperature) in a discharged body fluid. Because of the potentially dangerous nature of infected discharged body fluids they are classified as a biohazard. The following illustration is designed to highlight the potential dangers.

“A cyclist suffers a head injury in a collision with a motor vehicle. A kind passerby folds their coat into a pillow and comforts the cyclist while waiting for the ambulance. During this kindness the cyclists’ blood contaminates the coat and hands of the Samaritan.”

If the kind person touches their eye or eats with the contaminated hand, ports of entry for infection have been found. Further cross contamination is possible from the coat. Anyone handling it with a cut or abrasion offers an alternative port of entry for infection. This of course assumes the cyclist was infected in the first place.

How Infection Occurs

Further to the cyclist illustration above, ports of entry for infection include:

  • Eyes
  • Nose
  • Mouth
  • Skin Abrasion
  • Skin Puncture/ Contaminated Sharp
  • Absorption
  • Open Cut

Potential infection occurs when a contaminated object (for example hands) come into contact with a port of entry or, a discharge of contaminated body fluid comes into direct contact with the port of entry.

Which Body Fluids?

Primarily blood, but any discharge, tissue or body part can have blood content or trace. Some body fluids can be dangerous for other reasons. All body fluid discharges are classed as a biohazard (clinical waste).

Such body fluids include:

  • Blood
  • Decomposition
  • Urine
  • Peritoneal
  • Amniotic
  • Breast Milk
  • Semen
  • Pleural
  • Vaginal secretion
  • Cerebrospinal
  • Pericardial
  • Synovial
  • Faeces
  • Saliva
  • Other body fluids containing Blood

Which Diseases?

Bloodborne pathogens are wide and varied. Not so long ago some diseases were only associated with other continents and the risks to the UK populace were negligible. As we become more cosmopolitan the risks from such viruses increase. Two Further aspects are worthy of note, medical science continues to find previously unknown pathogens and those that are known are becoming more wide spread.

The greatest danger rests with Hepatitis and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) we offer the following selection of diseases:

  • Hepatitis A (HAV)
  • Hepatitis B (HBV)
  • Hepatitis C (HCV)
  • Hepatitis D (HDV)
  • Hepatitis E (HEV)
  • Hepatitis G (HGV)
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Brucellosis
  • Filariasis
  • Salmonellosis
  • Malaria
  • Human Immunodeficiency
    (HIV1 and HIV2)
  • Herpes virus group