Safety guidelines for the andrology laboratory.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Schrader, Steven M.
• Description:
  Safety guidelines for andrology laboratory workers were discussed. The scope of the risk for andrology laboratory workers who handle potentially hazardous pathogens in semen was summarized. It was noted that although acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major concern for andrology laboratory workers, its notoriety may distract attention from other potentially hazardous pathogens in semen. Recent studies have shown that 47 to 67 percent of potential or actual semen donors for artificial insemination had signs or histories of sexually transmitted diseases. The types of pathogens present in semen were described. Besides the AIDS virus, hepatitis- B virus (HBV), cytomegalovirus, papillomavirus, and pathogens that cause gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, streptococcus, and trichomonas have been detected in semen. Guidelines for preventing exposure to hazardous pathogens in semen used in the NIOSH andrology laboratory were presented. These include: handling every semen sample as if it were contaminated with sexually transmitted disease pathogens; offering all personnel vaccinations for HBV; avoiding accidental wounds from sharp instruments contaminated with semen; wearing disposable plastic or rubber gloves, a laboratory coat or disposable gown, and safety glasses; disinfecting the outsides of semen collection jars; using disposable laboratory supplies where feasible; placing all used disposables in containers marked for biological hazards and autoclaved; using only mechanical pipetting devices, never by mouth; wearing surgical masks whenever the possibility for aerosolizing semen exists; and no eating, drinking or smoking in the laboratory. Implementing safety precautions for health care and laboratory workers was discussed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Body Fluids Hazardous Substances Laboratories Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Author; AIDS-virus; Body-fluids; Biohazards; Occupational-hazards; Venereal-diseases; Safety-practices; Laboratory-workers
• ISSN:
  0015-0282
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  387-389
• Volume:
  51
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00189539
• Citation:
  Fertil Steril 1989 Mar; 51(3):387-389
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1989
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Fertility and Sterility
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/247696/cdc_247696_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]