New Occupational Exposure Process for All UTMB Students

Emergency Department Visits No Longer Necessary

Student Health is committed to the health and safety of our students. We have created a new occupational exposure process along with a new webform for reporting Occupational Exposure to Blood & Bodily Fluids/Needlesticks/Sharps Injury. Students who experienced an occupational exposure to blood or bodily fluids while in their role as a student NO LONGER NEED TO GO TO THE ER, even if it is after hours, on weekends, or during holidays. Instead, please follow the 5-step process below:

Step 1: IMMEDIATE ACTION

If you are stuck by a needle or other sharps or get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin:

1. Wash needle sticks and cuts with soap and water.
2. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
3. Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.

Step 2: OBTAIN THE SOURCE BLOOD

Report the incident immediately to your Faculty/Resident/Preceptor/Supervisor.

Obtaining the source blood is the most important step. Please work with your Faculty/Resident/Preceptor/Supervisor or their delegate to obtain the source labs. 

Obtaining the source blood will differ based on the location and when the exposure incidence occurred.  Follow the steps below based on your situation.

1.UTMB SITE

Using a yellow-top tube with source labels on the tube, take the source blood specimen with you to the Student Health Clinic (SHC) or send it to the UTMB Lab closest to you.  If you are unable to draw the source blood at your location, arrange to have the patient’s blood drawn at a UTMB Lab Draw Station and you will need to make sure you have the lab requisition with you. See step 3 below on obtaining the lab requisition form.

2.NON-UTMB SITE/AWAY ROTATION

Follow facility BBP exposure protocol and make sure facility obtains the source patient labs and Fax the result to Student Health Between 24-48hours (409-747-9330).If the facility is unable to draw labs and the source patient is present and agreeable, send source patient to any UTMB location lab draw station that is nearby with the appropriate lab requisition form.  If there are no UTMB lab draw stations nearby, call Student Health during office hours to obtain a lab requisition for a QUEST Lab close by where you can send the  source patient. Inform your patient that they will not be billed for this lab.

3.AFTER HOURS/HOLIDAYS

If a facility is unable to draw labs and the source patient is present and agreeable, please send the source patient to any UTMB lab draw station. Ensure Source patients have lab requisition form with them or call SHC during office hours to obtain a lab requisition for QUEST. Ensure the source's blood specimens are properly labeled with the source's identifiers to prevent any delays in the lab results. 

If all attempts to obtain source blood fails, call SHC ASAP (409-747-9508).  If after hours/holiday/weekend, and past 48-hours, email SHC (SHCEMAIL@UTMB.EDU) and follow Step 4 below. 

Step 3: COMPLETE WEBFORM

All students with BBP exposure should complete this webform ASAP https://utmb.us/8d6 or scan the QR code at the back of your ORANGE exposure badge and complete the webform as soon as possible. After completing the webform, the following will be sent to your UTMB email:

1. Lab Requisition Form – please print and attached it to the source specimen before dropping it off at SHC or at a UTMB lab. Give the source patient a copy of the lab requisition form if they are going to have their lab drawn at any UTMB lab draw station. For more information on lab requisition see obtaining source lab in step 2 ABOVE.

2. A First Fill form for Prophylaxis, if you select the option for Prophylaxis on the webform.

3. A copy of the BBP form.

Step 4: PROPHYLAXIS

Prophylaxis will be initiated if source blood is unobtainable within 72 hours or if the source lab result has been received and HIV is positive. The initial dosage of Prophylaxis will be for 2 days. The remaining 26 days will be dispensed if needed and students will need to come to the SHC clinic for lab work and Rx. Please schedule appointments online for exposure follow up and prescription.

Step 5. FOLLOW-UP

All students must follow-up with SHC in person (tele visit for away rotation student) for further evaluation, counseling, prophylaxis, or vaccination as indicated.  Instructions for any additional follow-up testing or assessment by a specialist will be provided at that time.

For all UTMB lab draw locations, address and phone number please click on this link:

https://www.utmbhealth.com/services/lab-services.