The baseline testing for the student is rarely if ever an emergency. Therefore, if it is possible to come to the University Health Services within a few days for your own testing, it can be done with no cost to you. While the exact implementation of procedures will vary from place to place, here are some common themes that will be part of the management of an exposure incident . Another health professional will assist you, and the proper steps will be followed to collect the information that is needed to manage the exposure and to care for you. There is a specific definition of significant exposure, it takes into account the type of body fluid, the integrity of the skin surfaces, and the mechanics of the injury.
Facilities use an incident report as a tool in evaluating such situations.
Some thought should be given to understanding how the incident happened and how it could be prevented in the future. That might not be the first thing on your mind, but it should be part of the process sometime. One should not rely on medical or social history to assess the risk of bloodborne infections. A uniform practice of testing every source patient is the standard. This requires the patient's consent for testing.