Spillages of blood and other body fluids may transmit blood borne viruses.

Important words and what they meanA blood borne virus is a virus carried or transmitted by blood, for example Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.Body fluids are fluids produced by the body such as urine, faeces, vomit or diarrhoea. These body fluids may also contain blood.

 

Blood and body fluid spillages must be decontaminated:

• immediately by staff trained to undertake this safely
• using body fluid spill kits/equipment available

Responsibilities for the decontamination of blood and body fluid spillages should be clear within each area/care setting.

Resources

Read the management of blood and body fluid spillages literature review to find out more about why we do things this way for blood and body fluid spillages.

 

Use the poster management of blood and body fluids to help you when you clean up blood and body fluid spillages.

 

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