Texas § 81.095 TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.

Texas Statutes

§ 81.095 — TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.

Texas § 81.095

Code HSHealth and Safety Code

This text of Texas § 81.095 (TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Health and Safety Code Code Ann. § 81.095 (2026).

Text

Sec. 81.095. TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE.

(a)In a case of accidental exposure of a health care worker to blood or other body fluids of a patient in a licensed hospital, the hospital, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take reasonable steps to test the patient for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, or any reportable disease.

(b)This subsection applies only in a case of accidental exposure of certified emergency medical services personnel, an emergency response employee or volunteer, or a first responder who renders assistance at the scene of an emergency or during transport to the hospital to blood or other body fluids of a patient who is transported to a licensed hospital. The hospital receiving the patient, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take reasonab

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Sec. 81.095. TESTING FOR ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE. (a) In a case of accidental exposure of a health care worker to blood or other body fluids of a patient in a licensed hospital, the hospital, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take reasonable steps to test the patient for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, or any reportable disease.
(b) This subsection applies only in a case of accidental exposure of certified emergency medical services personnel, an emergency response employee or volunteer, or a first responder who renders assistance at the scene of an emergency or during transport to the hospital to blood or other body fluids of a patient who is transported to a licensed hospital. The hospital receiving the patient, following a report of the exposure incident, shall take reasonable steps to test the patient for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, or any reportable disease if the report shows there is significant risk to the person exposed. The organization that employs the person or for which the person works as a volunteer in connection with rendering the assistance is responsible for paying the costs of the test. The hospital shall provide the test results to the department or to the local health authority and to the designated infection control officer of the entity employing or using the services of an affected emergency response employee or volunteer, which are reponsible for following the procedures prescribed by Section 81.050 (h) to inform the person exposed and, if applicable, the patient regarding the test results. The hospital shall follow applicable reporting requirements prescribed by Subchapter C. This subsection does not impose a duty on a hospital to provide any further testing, treatment, or services or to perform further procedures.
(c) A test conducted under this section may be performed without the patient's specific consent.
(d) The facility shall have a policy concerning the disclosure of the result of the testing as authorized or required by law.
(e) The facility shall abide by all patient confidentiality standards as set out in Section 81.046 .

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1169, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 610, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 835, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1278 (S.B. 1574 ), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2015.