Testing Source Patient Blood for HIV Antibodies After Accidental Exposure of Health Care Workers to Blood and Body Fluids

To the Editor.—  Until recently, if a health care worker was exposed to the blood or body fluids of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individual little was done except to counsel the worker and follow up the worker for evidence of HIV infection. If the HIV status of the source patient is not known, the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga, has recommended that informed consent be obtained to test for HIV antibodies. Moreover, informed consent for HIV antibody testing is required by many states.However, there now is positive action that may be taken after accidental exposure. There is evidence based on animal studies that zidovudine, alone or in combination with interferon alfa, can prevent or alter experimental retrovirus infection and that the effectiveness of zidovudine in preventing disease is greatest when it is administered soon after inoculation rather than after a delay.^1-4 The National Institutes of Health,