Christine Perry and Jane Barnett outline the principles of universal precautions

Universal precautions is the term used to describe practices taken to reduce the spread of blood borne viruses. It relates to the handling of contaminated equipment and material in such a manner as to prevent the transmission of infection to patients and healthcare workers. Other terms used to describe the concept of universal precautions include: safe working practices (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) 1995): blood and body fluid precautions (Centers for Disease Control 1987); and standard precautions (Garner and Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) 1996).