Blood and Biohazard Exposure

If you are a student working in a clinical setting, there is a risk of accidental exposure to blood and other body fluids from infected patients.

Exposure can happen through:

• Needle sticks or cuts from sharp objects and instruments contaminated with another person's blood or potentially infectious body fluids.
• Contact of the eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin with another person's blood or other potentially infectious body fluids.

If you are exposed, you need take the following steps:

• Immediately cleanse wound with soap and water or irrigate splash areas (eyes, mucous membranes) with normal saline or water.
• Notify your attending supervisor/faculty/instructor immediately to report incident and order labs from source patient (HIV Ab, HCV Ab, HBV Ag and other labs, if necessary).
• Complete the Blood/Body Fluid Exposure Form while at the clinical site where the event occurred. Keep a copy of all paperwork.
  • If you are on the AU campus (or within 30 minutes): Within 3 hours of exposure, report to the Student Health Clinic by calling 706-721-3448 located in Pavilion II, Mon-Fri, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. If closed, report to nearest ED/ER for labs and assessment for HIV prophylaxis. CMP should be ordered if HIV prophylaxis is considered or prescribed. HCG should be ordered before initiating prophylaxis for female patients. Provide facility with insurance cards.
  • If outside AU campus (over 30 minutes away): Within 3 hours of exposure, report to facility employee health or nearest ER/ED for labs and assessment for HIV prophylaxis. CMP should be ordered if HIV prophylaxis is considered or prescribed. HCG should be ordered before initiating prophylaxis for female patients. Provide facility with insurance cards.
• If treating provider has questions concerning your exposure, call the PEP line at 1-888-448-4911.
• Submit a copy of your exposure paperwork to us by emailing it to shsrecords@augusta.edu.