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Message Board>
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
Michael, TX
Guest
0 post
16-Mar-2008
9:47 PM
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Is it a violation of 29 CFR 1910.1030 for a medical facility subject to OSHA authority not to perform "rapid HIV antibody testing" on a source individual after an exposure incident?
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thomaskappil
3 post s
17-Mar-2008
4:30 AM
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The bloodborne pathogens standard provides that "the source individual's blood shall be tested as soon as feasible" after an exposure incident and after consent is obtained. Currently, there are at least four FDA-approved tests available for "rapid HIV antibody testing," which usually can confirm negative HIV status in less than an hour after blood is drawn from a source individual. They are widely available, easy to use, and inexpensive. Standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing can take a much longer time, especially if facilities to perform the tests are not available locally. Therefore, an employer's failure to use rapid HIV antibody testing when testing would usually be considered a violation of that provision. The use of rapid HIV antibody testing is supported by the current CDC recommendations for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in the Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis, published on September 30, 2005. The CDC states on page 7 that having a "rapid HIV test could result indecreased use of PEP and spare personnel both undue anxiety and adverse effects of antiretroviral PEP." The document goes on to note on page 8 that "rapid HIV testing of source patients can facilitate making timely decisions regarding use of HIV PEP after occupational exposures to sources of unknown HIV status." Current guidance on the management of HBV and HCV exposure and PEP, as well as guidance for evaluation of the exposure source, is also contained in the Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis (June 29, 2001),
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