The detection of blood on nonporous environmental surfaces: an approach for assessing factors contributing to the risk of occupational exposure to blood in the autopsy suite.

Abstract

A simple and inexpensive method to assess the contamination of environmental surfaces and the associated potential risk of exposure of autopsy room personnel to potentially hazardous materials is described. Blood was selected as a marker of contamination and HEMASTIX reagent strips were used to determine its presence on selected surfaces. The surfaces selected for examination typically do not come into direct contact with cadavers or tissues during a routine postmortem examination and thus are not included in routine cleanup. We documented the presence of blood on a variety of environmental surfaces in the autopsy suite and suggest that the contamination resulted from a breakdown in good work practices, most probably the indiscriminate handling or touching of materials and equipment with contaminated gloves. The risk of exposure to blood by the indirect route was deemed significant. The results of this study underscore the importance of establishing and consistently following good work practices and cleanup procedures to minimize the risk of exposure to blood before, during, and after postmortem examinations.