Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Pediatric Source Blood Draws

Labs in a pediatric faciity need to draw source-patient blood after a needlestick exposure just as in an adult facility. You cannot claim to observe universal precautions, which OSHA requires, when you assume that blood or body fluids from a pediatric patient pose no risk in an occupational exposure. If you don't obtain a blood sample, even from a pediatric patient, you are not in compliance with the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard.

No comments: