Rule 4734-8-08 | Universal precautions.
(A) Licensees who perform or participate in invasive procedures are required to be familiar with, observe and adhere to acceptable and prevailing standards for universal blood and body fluid precautions to minimize the risk of being exposed to or exposing others to the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
(B) When performing or participating in invasive procedures licensees must:
(1) Wear disposable gloves. Hands must be washed when gloves are removed. Before performing or participating in invasive procedures on another patient, the licensee must wash hands and reglove with another pair of disposable gloves. If a glove is torn or a needle stick or other injury occurs, the glove must be removed and a new glove used as promptly as patient safety permits. The needle or instrument involved in the incident must be removed from the sterile field. Disposable gloves may not be washed or reused for any purpose.
(2) Effectively disinfect and sterilize equipment.
(3) Utilize aseptic techniques and only sterile, disposable needles.
(4) Hands and other skin surfaces must be washed immediately and thoroughly if contaminated with blood or other body fluids.
(5) Safely handle and dispose of needles and other sharp instruments in a puncture-resistant container for disposal. The container must be located as close as practicable to the use area. Needles or other sharp instruments may not be recapped or purposely bent or broken by hand. All sharp items and contaminated waste must be disposed of according to requirements established by federal, local and state environmental or regulatory agencies.
(C) A licensee who performs any procedure that requires the use of needles shall utilize aseptic techniques and only sterile, disposable needles.
(D) Glove use is required for acupuncture and dry needling when needling areas of non-intact skin, areas of or in proximity to mucus membranes or when there is a risk of blood or other potential infectious material as defined by the occupational health and safety administration in 29 C.F.R. 1910.1030(b) .
(E) Glove use is required for any procedure that requires examining or touching a patient's pelvic area, genitals, rectum, prostate or breast, in accordance with rule 4734-9-06 of the Administrative Code.
(F) For the purposes of this chapter, hand washing is defined as the process of cleaning hands, through either washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizer or other antimicrobial agent.
Last updated February 17, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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