While you are studying and learning how to treat patients and our community, you will need to know what to do in the event of bloodborne or body fluid exposure. Follow the steps below immediately within 24 hours after the incident.
If you have a needlestick injury or similar bloodborne exposure, the best thing to do is to act now.
- Perform First Aid:
Wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes with warm water and sudsing soap. If eye exposure, use emergency station to flush eyes for 15 minutes while holding eyes open. - Get Medical Help:
- Notify your supervisor.
- If the patient consents, be sure to receive the patient’s name, date of birth, and MRN number for later follow-up.
- If at a UW Medical site, go to the Employee Health Center for immediate assistance. If the exposure occurred at a non-UW Medical site, go to the nearest Emergency Room. Do not go to the non-UW Employee Health Center, as you are not considered an employee of the site, and will confuse insurance payouts later.
- Complete the BBP Redcap Survey within 24 hours to Redcap first, and THEN UW Online Accident Report (OARS). This will assist in further medical treatment and follow-up care, and help prevent other incidents for your classmates.
For specific program’s Bloodborne Exposure procedures and contact information, please choose your program below:
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- School of Dentistry
- MEDEX
- Laboratory Medicine/MLS
- School of Pharmacy
- Rehab Medicine – Occupational Therapy
- Rehab Medicine – Physical Therapy
- Rehab Medicine – Prosthetics & Orthotics
- Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program
- School of Speech and Hearing
- School of Social Work – Seattle
- School of Social Work – Tacoma
- School of Public Health
- Genetic Counseling
Treatment & Coverage of Costs Related to Blood & Body Fluid Exposures
Exposure Treatment & Coverage of Costs at a Non-UW Medicine Site
Students on rotation at a non-UW Medical site who have a blood or body fluid exposure during a clinical or practicum experience should be seen at the nearest ER and use their personal insurance for treatment. HSIP will pay or reimburse any uncovered costs after the student’s insurance is billed first.
- Health science students are not employees while they are engaging in education-related activities at clinical sites and are, therefore, not covered by workers’ compensation at either the clinical site or UW. Treatment for exposures is NOT considered an on-the-job injury since students are NOT employees at clinical training sites.
- Follow-up care after an initial evaluation for an exposure should be arranged through the UW Campus Employee Health Center (EHC), if indicated to do so. Contact UW EHC at emphlth@uw.edu or call 206.685.1026.
- If the exposure occurs outside the Seattle area, please contact HSIP at myshots@uw.edu for assistance with arranging follow-up care, if indicated.
- HSIP assistance with medical expenses is only for BBP exposure; it does not include other types of injuries or illnesses that may be related to your clinical or practicum experience.
- HSIP does not cover after-insurance reimbursement for exposures related to international travel. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain and carefully review the terms of supplemental travel insurance prior to each trip.
- Students are eligible for the reimbursement described in this section only if they are enrolled and have paid the HSIP fee.
If your insurance does not cover all the costs associated with post-exposure care, or if you have questions about reimbursement for expenses related to a BBP exposure, needlestick or sharps injury, please contact HSIP staff by email at myshots@uw.edu and note in the email subject line: “Reimbursement Question.” Alternatively, you can leave a voice mail message at 206.616.9074.
For more information about what to do after a BBP exposure, needlestick or sharps injury, see the Bloodborne Pathogens page.
Exposure Treatment & Coverage of Costs at a UW Medicine Site
Students on rotation at a UW Medicine site (UW Medical Center, UW Northwest Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, UW Dental Clinic, or other UW Medicine site) who have a blood or body fluid exposure during a clinical or practicum experience should be seen immediately at those sites’ corresponding Employee Health Center during regular business hours Monday – Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Follow-up care after an initial evaluation for an exposure should be arranged through the UW Campus Employee Health Center (EHC), if indicated to do so. Contact UW EHC at emphlth@uw.edu or call 206.685.1026.
- Students will not be billed for costs of exposure care performed at any UW Medicine Employee Health Centers.
- After hours students at a UW Medicine site should be seen at the nearest ER and use their personal insurance for treatment. HSIP will pay or reimburse any uncovered costs after the student’s insurance is billed first. Health science students are not employees while they are engaging in education-related activities at clinical sites and are, therefore, not covered by workers’ compensation at either the clinical site or UW. Treatment for exposures is NOT considered an on-the-job injury since students are NOT employees at clinical training sites.
Last Updated: 5/29/25
