CAP Pro Course - Safety - Bloodborne Pathogens (2025 & 2026)

Author: Cheryl Bentley, MLS(ASCP)CM
Reviewers: Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ) and Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Define bloodborne pathogens (BBP) and the precautions used to prevent the transmission of potentially infectious material.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the procedures included in the laboratory's exposure control plan.
  • Identify appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work practice controls that are used to minimize or eliminate employee's risk of exposure to BBP.
  • Select the proper precautions necessary for the transport and waste disposal of potentially infectious material, including sharps waste.
  • Recognize appropriate decontamination procedures used following a spill of potentially infectious material.

Course Outline

  • Define bloodborne pathogens (BBP) and the precautions used to prevent the transmission of potentially infectious material.
      • Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
      • Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) of Primary Concern
      • Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Standard
      • Universal Versus Standard Precautions
      • If a bloodborne pathogen (BBP) is present in blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), there is the potential for laboratory exposure. A...
      • Microorganisms of primary concern are those most commonly associated with occupational risk of infection. These include human immunodeficiency virus (...
      • Universal Precautions (UP) and Standard Precautions (SP) are infection control guidelines designed to prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorga...
      • Which of the following bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) is least commonly associated with occupational risk exposure?
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the procedures included in the laboratory's exposure control plan.
      • Laboratory Exposure Control Plan (ECP)
      • Defining an Exposure Incident
      • Reporting an Exposure
      • Evaluating the Circumstances of Exposure
      • Communication Hazards: Labels and Signs
      • Safety Training and Responsibility to Control Exposure
      • Laurie collects a sample of a patient's blood. The patient becomes combative during the procedure, jerking his arm back and removing the needle from t...
      • Celine is wearing gloves and a lab coat while working in the accessioning area. The laboratory is warmer than usual, so she has pushed up the sleeves ...
      • Individuals must be given sufficient warning if potentially infectious material is present. This is accomplished by placing appropriate labels on cont...
      • Employers must provide training for employees who have the risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs). Employees must receive traini...
  • Identify appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work practice controls that are used to minimize or eliminate employee's risk of exposure to BBP.
      • Sharps Safety
      • Work Practice Controls
      • Handwashing
      • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • Engineering Controls
      • Aseptic Removal of Gloves
      • Needlestick injuries that expose workers to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) are a significant risk for laboratory employees. There are certain actions tha...
      • Laboratory safety includes the implementation of engineering controls that are physical features providing barriers to protect workers from hazardous ...
      • Ben has accepted a position with a laboratory that has partnered with a local college to take medical laboratory science students for clinical rotatio...
      • To prevent the spread of infection, it is very important for laboratory personnel to properly wash their hands before and/or after certain actions. Fo...
      • Capped blood specimen tubes are placed onto an automated track/line in the accessioning area and delivered to the chemistry department. The tubes trav...
  • Select the proper precautions necessary for the transport and waste disposal of potentially infectious material, including sharps waste.
      • Sharps Disposal
      • Infectious Waste Disposal
      • Transportation of Potentially Infectious Material
      • A physician at Jason's hospital has ordered several coagulation factor tests on a critically ill patient. Jason's laboratory normally sends these test...
      • A contaminated sharp is anything that can cut or puncture the skin and contains blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) that may cause a...
      • Your laboratory collects blood samples for employee health screenings. Each sample is individually packaged for shipping to an outside laboratory in a...
      • The replacement of sharps containers is very important to prevent any injuries from contaminated sharps. What is a good practice to use with regard to...
  • Recognize appropriate decontamination procedures used following a spill of potentially infectious material.
      • Procedures for Spill Cleanup of Biohazardous Materials
      • Decontamination Methods
      • A member of environmental services is picking up biohazardous trash. One of the red bags is removed from its plastic waste receptacle and is placed on...
      • Katie loads and starts the centrifuge. Shortly after starting the centrifuge, Katie hears a loud noise as she is walking away, realizes a tube has bro...
      • Which of the following is a recommended disinfectant for blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)?
      • Which of the following terms is used to identify a chemical germicide that is safe to use on skin and tissue?
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Cheryl Bentley, MLS(ASCP)CM received her degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. Cheryl began her career as a generalist at Henry Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia and is currently the Clinical Laboratory Supervisor at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia. 
Reviewer Information:
Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ), has over 25 years of experience as a certified Medical Technologist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia. 
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as an Education Developer. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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