Needlestick Exposure

Blood or Body Fluid Exposure: What to Do

1. Wash the area immediately with soap and water. Mouth/ eyes: Flush thoroughly with water.
2. Notify your supervisor immediately; if needed HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is to be started within 2 hours of the exposure.
3. IMMEDIATELY report to the location that handles exposures. This may be Occupational Health. Off hours and weekends, it is almost always the Emergency Department (see where to report by hospital location below). For outpatient setting: Speak with your instructor.
4. Ask your supervisor who will test the source patient. You will need the name and contact information of the person testing the source. The source patient is tested for HIV-1, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). For HIV-1 tests, a rapid test is advised to guide PEP.
5. You may be asked to complete an incident report at the site.
6. Billing: Use your health insurance for the medical evaluation.

What to Expect at Your Evaluation

1. Describe the exposure: When and how did it happen? Was there visible blood? Type of needle?
2. Provide the name and contact information of the clinician testing the source patient. The person evaluating you will then obtain results on the source patient.
3. Baseline Blood tests for you: HIV-1 antibody, HCV antibody; HBV surface antigen, HBV surface antibody if you do not know your HBV surface antibody result. If you are starting HIV PEP: Complete blood count, chemistries, pregnancy test.
4. The decision to begin HIV PEP depends upon the source case. A rapid HIV test result will help guide that decision. While awaiting a result, PEP may be started.
5. Inform NYMC Health Services of the injury: Reporting the needlestick to Health Services is a requirement. Health Services will arrange your follow-up testing or prescriptions.

Where to Report for Evaluation by Hospital Location

For outpatient locations, please ask your site or elective director.

The safety of students in both an educational and clinical setting is of utmost importance to New York Medical College. Students, faculty and staff, both at the Valhalla campus and at our clinical affiliated sites, are asked to familiarize themselves with the Policy on Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (Needle stick), found on the NYMC policies page, regarding needle sticks and exposure to blood and body fluids.