A question about time limits

[Jaycojade]

The following question is not related to my injury; BUT I'm just curious:
I worked in a very large hospital; back about 5 or 6 years ago I got stuck with a dirty needle (it was "tossed" in a red bio-hazard plastic bag instead of the proper needle box). I was carrying the bag & I always tried to hold the bag away from myself; but this time I was hurrying & the bag just "brushed" lightly against my thigh & I got stuck. I had no-way of knowing whom the patient was (nor did anyone else) since it happened in the Lab department & the needle could of been in the bag for a day or two. I did got to the ER dept & they took a blood test & cleaned up the stick mark. And I filed an incident report right away.
I had no problems & continued to work there; but what happens if someday down the road (I hate even thinkin this -- let alone writing it); that I start getting symtoms of HIV?? ( I think I read somewhere that the virus can stay in your body for a period of time & not even know it)
I know there's a time limit for filing an incident report in Penn; but is there a time limit for symtoms?
I've thought about this different times & I just decided to ask & maybe put it to rest in my mind. Thanks in advance.

[Pooh]

jay - I think every state is different when it comes to what they term occupational diseases and it is something you should check into. Seems like to me they would have followed that up with blood testing to make sure that you didn't have hiv or anything else like Hep C.

Also if nothing else - you should go and get the hiv tested just to ease your mind if nothing else.

[NewDriver]

Hey Jayco, you would need to read the WC regs specific to your state. I have read many different states regs and when it comes to industrial illness/disease they most all say as soon as you have reason to believe but no later than 1-2 years after the symptoms first become apparent. For the time limit to file a WC benefit claim.

Obviously if you were to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, HEP C, or any other communicable disease you had reason to believe you were exposed to you would want to make a reports ASAP.

Most states also have specific statues concerning health care workers and contraction of disease under the very circumstances your are asking about.

I have yet to get my nap from yesterday so I am being kind of lazy. But, here is a web pointer for PA WC. Hope it helps you find the answer you are looking for.

http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/lib/lan.../wcact.pdf

ND

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Jaycojade, it is my best opinion, for the same thing happened to my wife when she use to work at the Hospital. The first injury report is a copy you keep, the first procedure and such, are records you keep, all blood test are records you keep. At the time of the needle stick, records from the Lab could of been reviewed to see if anyone might had HIV or what ever, that should have been performed. The Hospital also starts you on HIV meds do to the unknown. You should then have blood test taken and regular times as required to test you. If at any time the results then would show positive, you then open a WC Claim. Not that you shouldn't open one, and then just try and keep it open as a record, but each state has the rules and laws on that, but the records are your proof.

[red1030]

Hi...you have gained a lot of good information here. The one thing that is very important is to have and keep a copy of your hospital's policy on needle sticks. Then obtain a copy and keep of the OSHA standards for needles sticks. Assure that the policy was adhered too at the time of the needle stick. You should have copies of the entire investigation that was most likely done by the risk management department. They are required to keep by regulations I believe for 7 years only. So my best advice would be to make sure that you have copies of it for your records.

Next..as to your last question about the time frame for HIV. This is not easy to answer because there are no time lines. I had to search this out myself, because when my last child was born in 1979, I almost died and I had blood given to me 4 times. I lived in Southern Oregon and the blood came from a bank in San Franciso. Of course then the rest is history. I was called back in for testing until 1990..when they felt that the threat was over for me. So have they ever tested you again? Did they have any body that had blood drawn that day that had HIV.. also, they should know if you are at risk or not, because they should have found that needle in the trash and then examined for HIV and Hep B or C. This should all be in the risk management report...I hope this helps answer your question somewhat...Red

[Jaycojade]

When I first started at the hospital; I did have the Hep C shots (3 of them); & the bloodwork that I had at the time I got stuck was to see if I had HIV or Hep C & it came back neg. I think; at my next (regular) Dr's appt; I'll ask him about getting rechecked; like both of you (pooh & Bad Boy) mentioned. Thanks to all & Take care.

[sweetone]

Hi i am just want to no if you can go on the web to see what the stautes is on my claim. thank you sweetone