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).