HIV Prevention and Recommendations for Healthcare Worker

[hopeful123126]

I am a healthcare worker who performs finger prick testing for hemoglobin levels. I work with a high-risk population of low-income, often uninsured patients. Most do not know their HIV status or do not disclose it to me. I occasionally have cleaned up blood spills but have never noticed any blood getting on me. Still, I am nervous about the possible risk of transmission. I wear gloves, but I always have hangnails and dry skin with small cuts due to washing my hands so much. Should I be tested for HIV? What other precautions can I follow to protect myself?

Thank you.

[joggen]

You would not be at risk even if you bathed in HIV positive blood.

[PhilMaura]

Hopefully you are following Universal Precautions.  You can read about them here:  http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051