OPIM

Anyone working around blood or other potentially infectious materials must exercise caution and adhere to the regulations governing bloodborne pathogens. Other potentially infectious materials (also referred to as OPIM) include the following:

• Human body fluids, including:
  • Semen
  • Vaginal secretions
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (fluid from the brain and spine)
  • Synovial fluid (fluid from synovial joints such as knees, shoulders, and wrists)
  • Pleural fluid (a fluid which surrounds the lungs)
  • Pericardial fluid (a fluid which surrounds the heart)
  • Peritoneal fluid (a fluid that surrounds most of the organs in the abdomen)
  • Amniotic fluid (a fluid that fills the amniotic sac during pregnancy)
  • Saliva in dental procedures, since it can often contain blood
  • All body fluids during situations where it is difficult or impossible to tell them apart, such as during an emergency response
• Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human
• Any of the following, if they are known or likely to contain or be infected by HIV, HBV, or HCV:
  • Cell, tissue, or organ cultures from humans or experimental animals
  • Blood, organs, or tissues from humans or experimental animals
  • Culture medium or other solutions (that is, a liquid or gel that supports the growth of microorganisms or cells, such as an agar plate or Petri dish)

To learn more about Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens visit our Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Online Training web page.