Attention: Medical Students
Needlestick or Body Fluid Exposure

AFTER A NEEDLESTICK OR BODY FLUID EXPOSURE

• Cleanse wound with soap and water and irrigate area with saline.  For eyes, irrigate with water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
• Arrange for source patient blood tests to be ordered by the physician responsible for the source patient's care (see below)
• Receive care from your medical provider or the nearest Emergency Department that accepts your insurance.
• If you have UC Student Health Insurance, report to:

Monday - Friday (except University Holidays). 8:00AM - 4:00PM
University Health Services, Holmes Building, 1st floor, room 1007, Phone: 513-584-4457

Nights, weekends, and University holidays.  Go to the nearest Emergency Department or the University Hospital Emergency Department. If you need advice call 513-584-STIX. Follow up with University Health Services (513-584-4457) the next workday.

If away from Cincinnati. Go to the hospital emergency room where you can get immediate care.  If you need advice, call University Health Services (513-584-4457) or the University Hospital operator (513-584-7777 or 513-584-PAGE) and page the University Health Services physician on call.  Report your exposure to University Health Services ( at 513-584-STIX or 513-584-4457). 

• If you do not have UC Student Health Insurance, contact your insurance company for instructions or go to the nearest Emergency Department that takes your insurance. You may receive care at University Health Services. You will be billed for your care. 

IF indicated, HIV prophylaxis needs to be started within 2 hours.

 
REQUIRED SOURCE PATIENT LAB WORK

• Rapid HIV antigen test (OCCEXP or other)
        (written informed consent required)
• HBsAg, HBclgM, HCVab
• Hepatic profile
• Collect 3 serum separator tubes and label with source name, medical record number, date, and time collected.
• At University Hospital, requisitions are available from the IRL at 513-584-3700

REQUIRED RECIPIENT LAB WORK

• HIV antibody (HIVR)
• NDSTKII (includes HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, SGPT, SGOT )
• HCVab

Note: Call University Health Services (513-584-4457) or have the University Hospital Operator (513-584-7777 or 513-584-PAGE) page the UHS physician on call for any questions regarding appropriate medical care. You will need to follow the protocol of the site at which you are rotating regarding documentation, obtaining source blood, etc.

 
COM Needlestick 07272004 (5/20/05)