The Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration (MIOSHA) Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Standard applies to all workers who may be exposed to human blood, body fluids, tissue, or other potentially infectious materials as part of their job duties.

See the WSU Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Exposure Control Plan for our written policy to comply with the MIOSHA Standard.

Use of human materials in research

Research involving the use of human cell lines, tissue, blood, and/or other potentially infectious material is handled at Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2). While this research does not require IBC review and approval, workers and laboratories must still meet the MIOSHA requirements.

• Training: Annual training is required in Biosafety/Bloodborne Pathogens for all faculty, staff, and students working with potentially infectious materials.
• Lab Inspections: Follow BSL-2 containment and work practice requirements while working with materials of human origin (see the CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition). Use WSU's BSL2 inspection checklist to review your lab(s) and prepare for your OEHS BSL2 lab inspection. If OEHS has not performed a BSL2 inspection in your lab(s) in the past three years, please contact Richard Pearson, OEHS Biosafety Officer fz1981@wayne.edu or 313-993-7597 to schedule a BSL2 lab inspection.

Human cell lines

BSL-2 is appropriate for activities with: all primate cell lines, even well established ones, all cells derived from primate lymphoid or tumor tissues; all primate tissue; all human clinical material*; cultured cells new to the laboratory until proven contaminant-free; and, cells exposed to or transformed by a primate oncogenic virus.

*These activities and the use of any cells purposely infected with or suspected of harboring agents defined as bloodborne pathogens are covered by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Laboratories using human cell strains (non-transformed cells) propagated from primary explants must also comply with the Standard because they are considered "unfixed human tissue" which is covered by the regulation.

Additional information:

• IBC Memo: Reducing Exposure Risks When Working with Human Cell Lines and Tissue in Rodents

• Universal Precautions - Working with human or non-human primate primary cells, cell lines, organ cultures and body fluids

• CDC Guidelines - Working with Human, Non-Human Primate, and Other Mammalian Cells & Tissues

• Use of established human cell lines in research - OSHA Letter of Interpretation