GLOSSARY-hbv


Abbreviations and acronyms

AHPPC                  Australian Health Protection Principal Committee

ARTG                     Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods

ASHM                   Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine

BBVSS                   Blood Borne Virus and Sexually Transmissible Infections Standing Committee

CALD                     Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

DNA                       Deoxyribonucleic acid

EPP                        Exposure Prone Procedure

EQAS                     External Quality Assessment Scheme

GPs                        General Practitioners

HBIG                      Hepatitis B immunoglobulin

HBsAg                   Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

HBV                       Hepatitis B virus

HCC                        Hepatocellular carcinoma

HCV                       Hepatitis C virus

HDV                       Hepatitis D virus

HIV                         Human Immunodeficiency Virus

IgM                        Immunoglobulin M

IVD                         In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices

MBS                       Medicare Benefits Schedule

MSM                     Men who have sex with men

NAT                       Nucleic Acid Test

NATA                    National Association of Testing Authorities

NHMRC                National Health and Medical Research Council

NPAAC                 National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council

NRL                        National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia

POCT                     Point of Care Testing

PWID                     People who inject drugs

RANZCOG           Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

RNA                       Ribonucleic acid

TGA                       Therapeutic Goods Administration

Analytical sensitivity

The smallest amount of the target marker that can be precisely detected.

Compulsory testing

Where a person has no choice in being tested, e.g. as directed under a Public Health Order.

Exposure Prone Procedure

The Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare54 defines exposure prone procedures (EPP) as invasive procedures where there is potential for direct contact between the skin (usually finger or thumb) of the healthcare worker and sharp surgical instruments, needles or sharp tissues (spicules of bone or teeth) in body cavities or in poorly visualised or confined body sites (including the mouth). In the broader sense, an exposure-prone procedure is considered to be any situation where there is a potentially high risk of transmission of blood borne viruses from healthcare worker to patient during medical or dental procedures.

Mandatory testing

Refers to situations where people re not allowed to participate in certain activities nor access certain services unless they agree to be tested. Examples of circumstances in which mandatory testing is appropriate include before blood, tissue and organ donation, and for immigration purposes.

Occupational exposure

An exposure that may place an employee at risk of HIV, HBV or HCV infection through percutaneous injury (e.g. a needlestick or cut with a sharp object, contact of mucous membranes, or contact of skin with blood, tissues or other potentially infectious body fluids to which Universal Precautions apply).

Serology

Refers to testing for the presence, evidence of, or quantity of antibodies or antigens specific for infectious or other agents, biochemistry, or substances in blood (serum or plasma or whole blood).