HANDLING OF AIDS AUTOPSIES I.    Cases for autopsy should be regarded as potential AIDS cases. This means:     A.  Gloves (double gloving recommended), protective eye covering, masks, cap and           gown, plus a waterproof apron and shoe coverings should be worn by           personnel performing or viewing an autopsy in order to prevent parenteral or           mucosal inoculation.     B.  The deceased should be tagged "blood/bloody body fluid precautions". Any           disposal items are to be double red bagged and sealed securely for immediate           incineration.     C.  Aerosol distribution of infectious agents should be avoided; i.e. bones should be           cut with a hand saw and under plastic covering rather than with electric saw,           if possible.     D.  Tissue samples should be thoroughly fixed in formalin before trimming from           histology.     E.  Standard precautions of cleanliness should be maintained in autopsy room at all           times. All fluid and tissues of the body should be treated as contaminated.         1. Decontamination procedures are: after thorough cleaning with soap and             water, using gloves, the following should be decontaminated with 1:10             dilution 5/25% sodium hypochlorite--household bleach --solution with tap             water at the conclusion of the autopsy.                          a. Autopsy table, scales, all instruments and stainless steelware, and                 any items contaminated by any personnel such as sink, door handles,                 etc. (which should not be contaminated in the first place).         2. Custodial services supplied by the Physical Plant are responsible for             disinfecting floors only. In the autopsy room their procedure includes:             donning rubber boots, gloves, and cover gowns prior to entry into the autopsy             room; phenolic germicide solution followed by 1:10 dilution 5/25% sodium             hypochlorite--household bleach--solution with tap water used to disinfect the             floor. II.    In all cases with positive HTLV reactions and in all cases suspected of being infected with AIDS         virus, the Pathology Department requires the following measures:     A.    Request for autopsy must be made directly by the clinical physician to the director             of the Autopsy Service, or , if he in unavailable, to the pathology staff member in             charge of autopsies for that day. The particular focus of interest in the autopsy             and the reason for the request is to be made clear.     B.    The autopsy will be performed with a minimum of risk to the autopsy room             personnel and to anyone else. To this end, in addition to procedures outlined             above for all autopsies:            1. No other activity will be permitted in the autopsy room at the same time.            2. Personnel in the autopsy room will be limited (probably to include only                staff in charge, prosector, and autopsy room assistant).            3. The doors will be kept locked.            4. Telephone calls will not be taken by these individuals during the autopsy.            5. Circulation of these individuals in the autopsy room will be limited to the                necessary areas.            6. Contamination by potentially infectious material (blood or other) will be                restricted to the immediate area of the autopsy table; only the tissues or                organs essential to the settling of the questions derived in the above described                preautopsy consultation will be removed. These will be placed in formalin as                soon as possible after their removal and dissection of them will be postponed                until they are fixed. III.   All personnel must be concerned with preventing unnecessary contamination in the autopsy         room.   This is a matter of general cleanliness and health and it refers to all autopsies, not just         AIDS cases.