Needle Stick Policy
Procedure for needle sticks or other accidental exposures to bloodborne pathogensUniversity of Louisville
If you experience a needle stick or other occupational blood exposure, please do the following:
1. Obtain consent from the patient involved for HIV testing if necessary and contact the nursing supervisor at the facility where the incident occurred.
2. Complete an incident report at the facility where the injury occurred.
3. If you have a needle stick from a high risk patient, i.e. a patient who is HIV positive or exhibits high risk behavior, please call 502-852-6446 immediately and ask to speak with the physician on call. HIV post exposure prophylaxis should be started within one hour of the exposure.
4. During working hours go to the Health Service Office on the first floor of the ACB for assistance. We strive to keep your visit as short as possible and have all of the appropriate worker's compensation forms available if necessary.
5. You will be counseled at your visit and appropriate long term follow-up testing will be determined. It is your responsibility to complete any follow-up testing.
6. Failure to follow the above procedures could result in nonpayment by worker's compensation insurance or non-contract prices for labs, which will be substantially higher than negotiated pricing.
