S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-97.1700.1705

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-97.1700.1705 - Patient Hepatitis Screening

A. All Patients shall be screened within thirty (30) calendar days prior to admission to the Facility to determine the hepatitis B virus serological status (HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs). The HBsAg status of all Patients shall be known to identify those individuals who are (1) HBsAg-positive and therefore potential sources of infection to others; (2) anti-HBs-positive and therefore immune; and (3) HBV-seronegative and therefore susceptible to hepatitis B virus. A status result from hepatitis B testing shall be maintained in the Patient's record.

B. The Facility shall make available to Patients literature describing the risks and benefits of the hepatitis B vaccination. The Facility shall offer hepatitis B vaccinations to unvaccinated and/or susceptible Patients. The Facility shall maintain all Patient vaccination records in each Patient record.

1. Each Patient who elects vaccination shall start the initial dose of the hepatitis B vaccine series within ten (10) days of admission and complete the series within six (6) months according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines for pre-exposure vaccination. The Facility shall conduct and document routine post-vaccination testing according to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for response to the vaccination.

2. The Facility shall consider the individuals declining vaccinations as hepatitis B virus seronegative, and follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for routine testing.

C. For Patients whose status has been determined to be HBsAg positive, the Facility shall refer to current Center for Disease Control guidelines and Facility policies and procedures.

D. The Facility shall conduct routine hepatitis B testing per current Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-97.1700.1705

Added by State Register Volume 44, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2020.