California Cosmetology Written ExamSafety and Infection ControlMedium
A cosmetologist questions why California salons must follow strict blood exposure and disinfection protocols even for clients who appear healthy. Which fact about Hepatitis B virus (HBV) best justifies this requirement?
- AHBV is less resilient than HIV and poses minimal transfer risk
- BHBV is destroyed instantly by exposure to air
- CHBV can survive on dry surfaces such as implements for at least 7 days
- DHBV cannot survive outside a living host for more than a few seconds
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. HBV can survive on dry surfaces such as implements for at least 7 days
Hepatitis B virus is far more resilient than HIV and can survive on dry surfaces and implements for at least 7 days, making proper disinfection critical even without visible blood. This is why standard precautions apply to every client, not just those who appear symptomatic.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. HBV is more, not less, resilient than HIV, increasing transmission risk.
- B. Air exposure alone does not destroy HBV.
- D. HBV is actually quite hardy outside the body, unlike this claim.
Hepatitis B Resilience
HBV is a bloodborne pathogen that can survive on dry surfaces for at least 7 days, making it far more resilient than HIV and a major concern for salon infection control.
- HBV survives ~7 days on dry surfaces
- HBV is more resilient than HIV
- Proper disinfection of implements is required to prevent transmission
Memory trick: HBV: 'Hangs Back Vigorously' for days on surfaces