Question

Evidence collected on the scene must be decontaminated in conjunction with:

a) Law enforcement.
b) NIOSH guidelines.
c) State health guidelines.
d) Emergency medical services.

Answer 1

a) Law enforcement.

Decontamination of evidence from a scene with biological hazards adheres to national guidelines set by the CDC and NIH, reflecting different biological safety levels (BSLs) based on the risk and type of contact with infectious agents.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evidence collected on the scene of an incident involving biological materials must be decontaminated according to specific guidelines to ensure the safety of personnel and prevent the spread of contamination. While there may be different entities involved in various aspects of an incident response, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and state health departments, the precise protocols for decontamination primarily adhere to national health and safety guidelines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are four biological safety levels (BSLs) for working with infectious agents. These levels dictate the required safety measures and decontamination procedures to protect against biohazards. Both the disinfection of fomites and antisepsis of tissues are important practices, and the level of cleanliness required varies based on the item's contact with sterile tissues, mucous membranes, or intact skin.