North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT one of the methods of transmission of blood borne pathogens?

1. Contact

2. Ingestion

3. Droplet

4. Vector

The correct answer is: Ingestion

In the context of blood borne pathogens, methods of transmission refer to how these pathogens can be spread from one person to another. Blood borne pathogens, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, are primarily transmitted through direct blood-to-blood contact. The correct answer, which indicates a method not associated with the transmission of blood borne pathogens, is based on the understanding that ingestion does not involve direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Instead, blood borne pathogens require exposure through routes such as puncture wounds, cuts, or mucous membranes. Other transmission methods relevant to blood borne pathogens include contact, where infectious blood can enter the body through broken skin, and droplet transmission, which typically refers to respiratory droplets rather than blood. While droplet transmission can spread other infectious diseases (like the flu or COVID-19), it is not a primary method for blood borne pathogens. Additionally, vector transmission usually involves a living organism, such as insects, that carry pathogens from one host to another, which is more relevant for other types of pathogens like those causing malaria or Lyme disease rather than blood borne pathogens. Thus, ingestion stands apart from these pathways and correctly identifies a non-applicable transmission method for blood borne pathogens.