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Inoculation Injury

Microbiology


Specimen

Blood sample (serum)

Specimen container

Gold top clotted (5ml)

Special Instructions

Ideally a blood sample from both the victim and donor should be sent to the laboratory as soon as possible

Samples from patients known to have blood transmissible viral infections should be clearly labelled “High Risk” or “Danger of Infection”.

Please provide following details:

  • Is this test following a Needle stick injury?
  • Is this sample from the donor or victim?
  • What was the date of the needle stick incident?
  • Please state name of the other party involved in the needle stick incident.
  • Please state Hepatitis B vaccination status of victim
  • Refer to Occupational Health

Test Usage

Blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), are at risk of being transmitted to health care workers in inoculation incidents. Management of these incidents includes testing a blood sample from the donor for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to Hepatitis C and HIV as soon as possible after the incident.

Donor of Needle stick- Tested for HBsAg, Anti HCV, HIV, and sample stored.

Victim of needle stick injury – sample stored.

Repeat samples should be sent according to the following table:

Donor status Immediate Testing Further Testing

Send blood within 48 hours. This sample is stored for 2 years. If PEP commenced, or sexual contact, then screen with HIV, HBsAg, HCV.

If unknown vaccine responder, check HBsAb

 

Offer HIV PEP according to risk assessment, and/or HBV vaccination according to Green Book

 

 

Unknown donor

4th Gen HIV test and HCV antibody test at 12 weeks.

HBsAG and HBcAB at 12 weeks only if unvaccinated/non-responder.

Known donor – BBV negative Nil
Donor HIV positive 4th Gen HIV test at 4,12 weeks, and/or 7 weeks after cessation of PEP
Donor HBV positive HBsAg and HBsAb at 12, 24 weeks; if HBsAb neg – do HBcAb
Donor HCV positive HCV PCR at 4,12 weeks, HCV Ab test at 12, 24 weeks

Availability

Local test

Processing Time

24-48 hours

Urgent Specimen Instructions

Treated as urgent

Specimen Labelling Procedure
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9018

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