Healthcare Notification and Testing Toolkit
Purpose
This toolkit provides a framework for use by state and local health departments for public notification as part of public health response to possible bloodborne pathogen exposures in a variety of healthcare settings.
Note: Bloodborne Pathogens Testing
In the event of a notification, recommendations for bloodborne pathogen screening may be included depending upon the risk of transmission. CDC staff are always available for consultation including discussion of testing algorithms for specific notification settings.
Please note that if potential exposures are less than six months earlier than the date of serologic screening, re-testing at a date greater than six months after last exposure is warranted in order to identify recent infections that have not yet become serologically detectable.
Suggested tests may vary according to the recency and likelihood of exposure and typically include:
- serologic testing for hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) and if positive reflex to HCV RNA testing pdf icon[PDF – 4 pages] (which may require an additional frozen serum specimen),
- serologic testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (may also consider total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (total anti-HBc) and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (Anti-HBs) tests to determine past infection and immunity status), and
- HIV testing
Please see:
Algorithm for testing and follow-up of HCV-exposed healthcare personnel pdf icon[PDF – 177 KB]
From MMWR 2018, Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Table 6, Postexposure management after distinct nonoccupational percutaneous or mucosal exposure to blood or body fluids