Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Protocol        

(Applies to Surgical Specimens and Autopsies)

Immediate Care

I. Assess and clean any wound, possibly allowing the wound to bleed a bit. Use lots of soap, water, and an antiseptic. If exposure is to a mucous membrane such as the eyes, immediately wash eyes at an eyewash station followed by 3 to 6 liters of normal saline in the ER or clinic. 

II. If it is an autopsy case, you or someone else can try to call the hospital lab where the patient was treated and see if they have enough blood that is adequate for testing from the “source patient” to check for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.  If not, try to extract blood from the cadaver.  Collect 1-2 red-top tubes (serum separator tubes:  5 -10 ml blood).

Contact: The Program Director and Mr. Barry Handy (Pager 533-5262)