TAC §97.405(k) contains specific guidance in regard to hepatitis B.

HCSSAs providing home dialysis services must conduct routine testing of home dialysis clients and agency employees to ensure detection of hepatitis B in employees and clients.

Agencies providing home dialysis services must also:

• offer hepatitis B vaccination to previously unvaccinated, susceptible new staff members in accordance with 29 Code of Federal Regulations, §1910.1030(f)(1) - (2) (Bloodborne Pathogens);
• maintain vaccination records in each staff member's personnel file;
• ascertain each staff member's hepatitis B status prior to permitting the staff person to provide home dialysis care;
• monitor each staff member's hepatitis B status in accordance with federal guidelines;
• make literature regarding hepatitis vaccination available to its dialysis clients and/or make hepatitis B vaccine available to clients susceptible to that disease;
• ascertain the hepatitis B status of each new client within one month of admission;
• perform repeated hepatitis B screening as appropriate based on the client's known hepatitis B status; and
• perform monthly hepatitis B screening on dialysis clients known not to have the infection.

Source: 40 TAC §97.405(k)