Standard Precautions

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Standard Precautions

The CDC states that routine diagnostic testing (examples below) of suspected SARS-CoV-2 specimens can be safely handled following standard precautions in a biological safety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory.
  • Using automated instruments and analyzers
  • Processing initial samples
  • Staining and microscopic analysis of fixed smears
  • Examining bacterial cultures
  • Pathologic examination and processing of formalin-fixed or otherwise inactivated tissues
  • Molecular analysis of extracted nucleic acid preparations
  • Final packaging of specimens for transport to diagnostic laboratories for additional testing (specimens should already be in a sealed, decontaminated primary container)
  • Using inactivated specimens, such as specimens in nucleic acid extraction buffer
  • Performing electron microscopic studies with glutaraldehyde-fixed grids
Standard precaution guidelines state that all blood and body fluids should be handled as if they are infectious and capable of transmitting disease. The consistent use of standard practices and precautions protects healthcare workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious material (OPIM).
Standard precautions apply to:
  • Blood
  • Body fluids
  • Secretions (except sweat*)
  • Excretions
  • Non-intact skin
  • Mucous membranes
*Unless blood is present within
17. Gathany, James. "This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist was shown working with stool samples, which had been mixed with chemicals, and was placing the chemical mixtures into a centrifuge, which when spun up to a high rate of speed, would separate the solid material from the liquid supernatant." CDC.gov, 2018, https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=22897

A CDC scientist using a centrifuge for diagnostic testing (17).