ROHP Requirements for Medical Clearance
Where to Complete Your Paperwork
Employees should complete questionnaires and upload immunization documents through their Occupational Health Connect Portal (preferred). If you do not see the questionnaires in your portal, please contact ROHP.
If you are a new hire or student, or an employee who does not see the questionnaires in your portal, you may complete through the web using the links in this page.
Who Requires Medical Clearance for Research?
Researchers working in a lab or clinical setting NOT listed on an IBC or IACUC protocol do not require medical clearance by ROHP. Researchers working with animals who are receiving any biologics or rDNA in the animal facility or handling ANY hazardous material (that require BSL2 or higher containment, including unfixed non-commercial human cells, tissue, or blood) or rDNA material, should be working under an IBC protocol. Researchers working with animals should be on an IACUC protocol. Please contact your PI if you have any questions as to what work you are doing and what protocol you may be on.
Research support (EHS, Facilities, Public Safety, and IT) entering lab space do require medical clearance.
No Clearance Required: Researchers working on a biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) protocol who do not work with animals do not require medical clearance from ROHP.
Clearance Required: Researchers working on BSL-1 protocols who do work with animals (excluding fish and amphibians) or on protocols that are BSL-2 or above still require ROHP clearance. Please read on to learn more.
Should a researcher’s work environment change, either to include animals or to begin work in a BSL-2 or higher lab, a new Job Risk Assessment and Health Questionnaire should be submitted to ROHP, as described below.
Requirements for Summer Student Researchers
Mentored summer research experiences provide tremendous learning opportunities for students. University Policy requires that all individuals working in laboratory research, including summer research students, complete and have an up-to-date training, medical clearance, be added to IBC or IACUC protocols if applicable, as well as follow other institutional procedures and policies related to safety in the laboratory.
View Notice of RequirementsRequired Initially and Annually
The following requirements apply to researchers on BSL-2 or above protocols, or on BSL-1 protocols working with animals (excluding fish and amphibians), who are working with human specimens, on an IACUC protocol with animals, on an IBC protocol, or who require access to research laboratories or animal care facilities (i.e., working, visiting, cleaning, or maintenance) where hazardous materials may be used:
- Job Risk Assessment (this link is for new hires and students only; current employees should fill out this form in their Occupational Health Connect Portal)
- Health Questionnaire (this link is for new hires and students only; current employees should fill out this form in their Occupational Health Connect Portal)
- Submit copies of available immunization records, including seasonal influenza and COVID vaccinations, to ROHP@bu.edu. If you are an employee and have access to the employee portal in Enterprise Health, you are required to upload your Covid vaccination records to the portal. You may also access your immunization records at Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) via https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/.
Your work environment as indicated in the Job Risk Assessment form will determine screenings required in order to obtain medical clearance.
Required for Visitors Entering Non-human Primate and Containment Spaces
The Sponsor, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), or Biosafety Officer (BSO) should contact the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) directly for the Visitor Job Risk Assessment. Please refer to the Visitor Medical Clearance Requirements.
Additional Screenings by Work Environment
Once you have completed the Job Risk Assessment and the Health Questionnaire above, please select the header below that best describe your work environment for a list of further requirements.
The list below is to be used as a guide. Additional screenings may be required after review of the Job Risk Assessment.
Available Vaccines Based on Job Activity
Available Vaccines Based on Job Activity
Work with human subjects (on an IBC protocol)
- Initial 2-step Tuberculosis skin test or blood test if greater than 1 year since your last TB test. TB symptom screening is required annually thereafter. If previous history of a positive TB test, please submit documentation including written chest x-ray report for review. TB symptom screen annually thereafter.
- Proof of two Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations OR positive MMR Titers
- Proof of two Varicella vaccines OR positive varicella titer
- Documentation of hepatitis B titer
- Proof of three Hepatitis B vaccination (Engerix) or two doses of (Heplisav)
- Tdap vaccination
- BU COVID-19 Policies
- Yearly Flu vaccine is strongly recommended
Work with human source materials
Human source materials includes human blood, body fluids, unfixed tissue or anatomical parts and/or primary human cells which have not been screened for Hepatitis B and are considered infectious for Hepatitis B- ** Established commercial cell lines (ATCC or similar), Pure (No risk of cross-contamination) HEK 293 cells, HeLa cells, Human iPSC's cells are considered NOT to be infectious for Hepatitis B.
All staff and researchers with patient contact are required to provide written documentation of having Hepatitis B vaccination series (dates must include month/day/year and be signed by healthcare provider) or read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Information Statement and sign the Hepatitis B vaccination declination form to decline the vaccine.
- If you have written documentation of your hepatitis B vaccine, you MUST also submit evidence of a quantitative, hepatitis B titer that was drawn at least 4-6 weeks or longer after the date of your last hepatitis B vaccine dose (or if you have had booster doses, the date of the last booster dose).
- Please note, if your hepatitis B titer is negative (<10 mIU/mL) you should receive a booster dose of the vaccine and have your titer re-drawn 4-6 weeks later.
- If you are considered a “non-responder” (negative titer after 6 doses) Hepatitis B surface antigen testing will be offered. The researcher will be offered the 2 dose Heplisav Vaccine which has greater response rate.
- If you are unable to locate your hepatitis B vaccination records and are declining the vaccination, a HBsAb titer is required.
Work with non-human primates or accessing space
- Initial 2-step TB skin test or blood test if greater than 1 year since last TB test. TB symptom screening and testing are required annually thereafter. If previous history of positive TB test, please submit documentation including written chest x-ray report for review. TB screening test annually thereafter.
- Proof of two Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations OR positive measles titer
- Annual flu vaccine is strongly recommended
Tuberculosis screening requirements, please refer to this link and TB Symptom Screen form.
Work with animals and have animal allergies
Work requiring the use of a respirator (for example N95, PAPR, half or full faced or supplied air respirator)
Work in the MRI environment
- MRI Screening Form – annually
NEIDL
- Participation in mental/behavioral health and urine drug screening program
- Screenings determined by biosafety level and work environment