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Journal of Clinical Pathology 2003;56:254-260; doi:10.1136/jcp.56.4.254
Copyright © 2003 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Association of Clinical Pathologists.
Journal of Clinical Pathology 2003;56:254-260
© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group & Association of Clinical Pathologists

REVIEW

Health and safety at necropsy

J L Burton

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr J L Burton, Academic Unit of Pathology, E-Floor Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK;
j.l.burton{at}shef.ac.uk

ABSTRACT

The postmortem room is a source of potential hazards and risks, not only to the pathologist and anatomical pathology technician, but also to visitors to the mortuary and those handling the body after necropsy. Postmortem staff have a legal responsibility to make themselves aware of, and to minimise, these dangers. This review focuses specifically on those hazards and risks associated with the necropsy of infected patients, with foreign objects present in the body, and with bodies that have been contaminated by chemicals or radioactive sources.

Keywords: health and safety; necropsy; mortuary; hazard

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; OR, adjusted odds ratio; TSE, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; v-CJD, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease


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