• Be fully informed of the risks and the necessary safety measures associated with such activities;
• Acknowledge your understanding and acceptance of the risks and responsibilities involved; and,
• Participate in appropriate medical surveillance including medical history information and necessary serum draw and antibody titering.

How do I meet these requirements?

Prior to working with live viruses, you must:
 

• Complete this web-based training and review any special health and safety measures and procedures established by your PI  for this virus work;
• Complete the Live Virus Worker Personnel Information Form, Sections A and B and the Health History Form;
• Sign and date the Notice and Acknowledgment form which is designed to allow you to indicate your understanding and acceptance of any exposure risk based on having received the appropriate information, training, and guidance with regard to work with live viruses;
• Provide your PI with the completed  Personnel Information Form for signature and take this along with the completed Acknowledgement and Initial Medical History forms to Employee Health;
• Arrange an appointment with Employee Health at 258-5035 to review your medical history and proceed with any necessary serum draw and antibody titering;

• Inform Employee Health of any change in your immune status due to illness or medical treatment, pregnancy, or exposure to live virus by injury or accident.

The forms described above are available for downloading and use and links to these are provided at the conclusion of this training.

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Live Viruses Currently Used in Princeton Research

Several specific live viruses are currently used in research at Princeton include:

• Adenoviruses
• Herpes Viruses
• Human Cytomegalvirus
• Pseudorabies Virus (PRV)
• Retroviruses

Adenoviruses

Adenoviruses have been recognized as the cause of common upper respiratory infections and bronchitis in adults. In children they may cause upper respiratory infection, croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and bronchopneumonia. Pneumonia in childhood is the most serious condition and may be fatal. (Serotypes identified as causing diseases are primarily 3,7, and less commonly types 1,2, and 5.) Nine strains have been identified as causing tumors in newborn hamsters. Most individuals have been infected with Adenovirus by the age of 15 and greater than 80 percent of the individuals have antibodies to Adenovirus.

Herpes Viruses

Hominis types 1 and 2 are associated with a number of diseases in humans. They are implicated in acute disseminated primary mouth infections (gingivostomatitis), and recurrent infection of the cornea or mucous membranes of the mouth. Herpes simplex virus has been associated with genital infections. While 80 percent of adults have high titers of neutralizing antibodies against Herpes type 1, only 20 percent of adults have significant titers of neutralizing anti bodies against Herpes type2.

Human Cytomeglovirus (HCMV)

Human Cytomeglovirus (HCMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family. HCMV is a ubiquitous human pathogen infecting the vast majority of humans at an early age. Its primary infection is usually mild to unapparent in normal healthy individuals. It causes life threatening infections in individuals with immune deficiencies such as AIDS patients, transplant recipients, or those undergoing cancer therapy. Neonatal CMV infection occurs in .3% to 1% of births; 15% to 25% of these infected infants eventually show some degree of neurosensory disability. Fetal infection may occur during either primary or reactivated maternal infections, but primary infections have a much higher risk of symptomatic disease.

Pseudorabies Virus (PRV)

Pseudorabies Virus (PRV) is a Suid herpesvirus classified as a member of the subfamily of Alphaherpesvirinea of the family Herpesviridea. PRV causes a natural, economically important disease (Aujeszky's Disease) in swine. It also causes the same disease in feral pigs. PRV causes fatal "mad itch" in cattle and some wild animals. PRV has a broad host range infecting many classes of mammals and birds but horses, reptiles, insects, and most higher primates including humans are resistant.

Retroviruses

Retroviruses cause tumors in animals such as chickens, mice, cats, and primates.

Those working with non-human retroviruses are not required to be in Live Virus Worker Program.

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Serum Draw and Antibody Titering

If you are working with certain viruses, the medical review includes serum draw and antibody titering to provide you with information on past exposure to the virus being used and to provide a basis for medical consultation on the effect of any future exposure. Employee Health personnel will provide the blood draw and have your serum checked for the level of antibodies, if any, that you have to the virus in question. Serum will not be stored.

Work with the following viruses requires serum sampling and antibody titering:

• Herpes Virus - Type 2
• Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

No serum sampling/titering is required for the work with the following viruses, except as requested by the PI or individual:

• Adenoviruses
• Herpes viruses (other than Herpes - Type 2)
• Papovaviruses - SV40

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Work Practices in Biological Laboratories

There are a number of work practices that can be used to minimize the risk of exposure when working with live viruses and other biological materials.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is gear worn to protect the wearer from specific hazards. PPE includes gloves,respiratory protection, eye protection and protective clothing.

• Lab coats, gowns, or other designated laboratory uniforms are recommended to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothing.
• Eye protection in the form of safety glasses or chemical splash goggles must be worn in the lab. Contact lenses may be worn in the lab but they do not offer eye protection.
• Face protection such as face shield or other splatter guard should be worn when splashes or sprays of infectious materials are anticipated or when agents must be handled outside the biosafety cabinet.
• Gloves should be worn when manipulating infectious materials or agents or when your hands must otherwise contact contaminated surfaces. Gloves should also be worn if the skin on your hands is broken or if a rash is present. Remove or change your gloves when they become torn, punctured or overtly contaminated.
• If respiratory protection is needed, it must be evaluated by Environmental Health & Safety. Contact the office at 8-5294 if you believe respiratory protection is necessary.

Avoiding Exposure

• Restrict needles and syringes or other sharp instruments in the lab for use only when there is no alternative. Substitute plasticware for glass whenever possible. Handle broken glassware with brush and dustpan, tongs or forceps-not directly with you hands.
• Use only needle locking-syringes or disposable syringe-needle units (i.e. needle is integral to the syringe) for injection or aspiration of infectious material. Syringes which re-sheathe the needle, needle-less systems and other safety devices should be used whenever possible.

Do not bend, shear, break, recap or remove used needles from disposable syringes or otherwise manipulate them unnecessarily. Dispose of needles and syringes in the puncture resistant container provided in the laboratory.

Restricting Access to the Biological Labs

When experiments or work with viral cultures are in progress, access to the laboratory should be limited or restricted. The Principle Investigator must ensure that all laboratory personnel receive appropriate training on hazards associated with the agents involved, the necessary precautions to prevent exposure and exposure evaluation procedures.

Ensure that when live viruses or other BSL2 infectious agents are in use in the laboratory, a biohazard sign is posted on the lab access door. The sign should identify the agents(s) in use, the biosafety level, any required immunizations, the name and telephone number of the Principle Investigator and any personal protective equipment that must be worn in the laboratory.

Accidental Exposures

Immediately notify your laboratory supervisor or your Principle Investigator in the event of an accident, injury, illness or overt exposure associated with your virus work. When deemed necessary, proceed to McCosh Health Center for appropriate medical surveillance and/or treatment.

If you have an exposure to viral agents on:

• Intact Skin
  • remove contaminated clothing
  • wash contaminated skin for one minute with soap and water
• Broken, cut, damaged skin or open wound
  • remove contaminated clothing
  • wash contaminated skin for five minutes with soap and water
  • seek medical attention at McCosh Health Center
• Eye(s)
  • Immediately flush eyes for at least 15 minutes with water at eyewash station or sink
  • Rinse from the nose outward to prevent contaminating the other eye
  • Hold eyelids away from your eyeball and rotate your eyes so all surfaces get washed
  • Seek medical attention at McCosh Health Center

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