After a needle stick injury, blood tests are performed primarily on the source patient (the individual whose blood the needle was exposed to), with their consent, to check for blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
Blood Tests for Source Patient After Needle Stick Injury
The main purpose of these blood tests is to determine if the exposed individual (the recipient of the needle stick) is at risk of infection from:
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
According to current best practices, the source patient should be tested for blood-borne viruses to guide the need for HIV prophylaxis and organise appropriate follow-up of the recipient. These tests are crucial in determining the need for immediate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV and for guiding the management of potential HBV and HCV infections in the exposed individual.
