Should employee health services have the capacity to provide rapid HIV testing?
Yes. Rapid testing will aid decisions regarding administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following significant occupational exposure to blood or body fluids. New York Department of Health guidelines for implementing PEP recommend immediate HIV testing, with informed consent, of the source patient with the result of the test available as soon as possible after the exposure. The guidelines further recommend that PEP be initiated immediately when indicated, ideally within two hours post-exposure. More information on New York State guidelines for HIV prophylaxis following occupational exposure is available at: www.hivguidelines.org.
Related Questions
- How are patients seeking help from the Universitys health clinics, including Campus Health Services, the Employee Occupational Health Clinic and UNC Hospitals, being evaluated and treated?
- Can an ALC employee "moonlight" to provide services under direct arrangement with a client, including health services?
- Should employee health services have the capacity to provide rapid HIV testing?
