for comments or concerns about this web site please contact:
Steve Marroulis at tissueresources@imsweb.com
A major focus of the CHTN is preventing accidental exposure to infectious agents by research personnel who work with human tissues. Each investigator must agree to "assume full responsibility for informing and training all personnel in the dangers of and procedures for safe handling of these and other human tissues." The CHTN has prepared a set of guidelines that provide detailed information and procedures for handling human tissues and body fluids used in research.1 Although this information is provided to CHTN investigators to assist them in developing working guidelines and operating procedures for their laboratory, each investigator remains responsible for the development and implementation of adequate safety procedures. This is formalized by an agreement on the application form that each investigator must sign.
In addition, the CHTN takes precautions to alert anyone opening a shipment that potentially biohazardous human tissue is enclosed. A bright orange biohazard label warning that the container holds human tissue and a bright yellow label urging the reader to be familiar with the guidelines for handling human tissue before proceeding are placed on the inner packaging of each shipment.
The CHTN does not provide tissues from patients with known infections such as hepatitis, AIDS, or tuberculosis. However, because there is no universal policy on testing for infective agents such as hepatitis-B and HIV (AIDS virus) and because medical histories of patients are not always indicative of infection, the CHTN can never be absolutely sure that the tissues it provides are not biohazardous. For this reason, the CHTN requires its investigators to treat all specimens as if they are contaminated.
The CHTN will continue to evaluate and incorporate any changes in the recommended
guidelines or development of new laboratory requirements for the safe handling
of human tissues. The CHTN investigators will be informed of any new guidelines
or developments.
1Grizzle, WE, Fredenburgh J. Avoiding biohazards in medical, veterinary and research laboratories. Biotechnic & Histochem 2001;76:183-206.
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Last updated: 02/01/07. for comments or concerns about this web site please contact: Steve Marroulis at tissueresources@imsweb.com |
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