NAC449.534. Hepatitis B surface antigen: Treatment of patients who test positive.

     1. If a patient of a facility tests positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen, the facility shall provide treatment for the patient:

     (a) On a machine that is dedicated for patients who test positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen; and

     (b) In an area of the facility that includes:

          (1) A sink for washing hands;

          (2) A work area;

          (3) An amount of equipment and supplies that is sufficient to care for the patient; and

          (4) Sufficient space to prevent contamination of any other patient of the facility.

     2. A patient specified in subsection 1 must be dialyzed on equipment that is dedicated for patients who test positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen.

     3. If a patient specified in subsection 1 is discharged from the facility, all equipment that is provided for that patient pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2 must be given intermediate level disinfection before the equipment is used for a patient who tests negative for the hepatitis B surface antigen.

     4. If a patient is admitted to a facility for treatment before a test for the hepatitis B surface antigen is conducted, the facility shall provide treatment to that patient as if he or she had tested positive for that antigen. The facility shall not treat the patient on a machine that is used for a patient of the facility who has tested positive for the antigen.

     5. If a facility uses a central delivery system, the facility shall treat a patient specified in subsection 4 on a designated machine. The facility may not reuse the dialyzer for that machine until the results of testing for that patient are known by the facility. The dialysis machine used by the patient must be given intermediate level disinfection before the machine may be used by any other patient of the facility.

     6. The facility shall obtain the results of testing for a patient specified in subsection 4 not later than 7 days after the patient is admitted to the facility.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R130-99, eff. 8-1-2001)