Blood can carry serious pathogens even when it looks dry. Here's how small spills should be handled — and when the job needs a trained biohazard team.
Blood and other bodily fluids can carry bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. A surface can look clean and still be contaminated, so every spill should be treated as potentially infectious.
Handling a small spill
- Keep other people and pets away from the area.
- Put on disposable gloves. Add eye protection and a disposable apron or gown if there is any chance of splashing.
- Soak up as much of the spill as possible with paper towels or another disposable absorbent material.
- Clean the area with soap and water to remove visible material.
- Apply an EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for bloodborne pathogens, or a freshly mixed bleach solution, and leave it wet for the full contact time listed on the label.
- Wipe up the remaining solution, then bag all towels, gloves, and other waste and seal the bag before throwing it away.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Follow universal precautions: treat all blood and bodily fluids as if they are infectious, and never handle them with bare hands.
When to call a biohazard team
Large spills, anything that has soaked into carpet, upholstery, drywall, or subflooring, and scenes involving trauma, unattended death, or decomposition need professional cleanup. Contamination often goes deeper than what's visible, and regulated medical waste must be removed and disposed of properly.
SL Restoration's biohazard technicians use proper protective equipment, hospital-grade disinfectants, and documented procedures to make the space safe again — discreetly and with respect for everyone involved.
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