Blood sample (serum)
Gold top clotted (5ml)
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:
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
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Unknown donor |
4th Gen HIV test and HCV antibody test at 12 weeks. HBsAG and HBcAB at 12 weeks only if unvaccinated/non-responder. |
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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 |
24-48 hours
Treated as urgent
Specimen Labelling Procedure