HBV is the most infectious of the BBV due to the higher virus load, with blood having the highest concentrations of the virus, and percutaneous infection is the most efficient route of transmission . HCV is predominantly associated with blood exposure, yet is less efficiently transmitted through occupational exposure than HBV; it is seldom transmitted through mucocutaneous exposure with an increased risk from. Within the healthcare environ- ment, HIV is transmitted through percutaneous exposure,patients with late stage disease and a higher virus load; the risk is also higher for proce- dures such as phlebotomy . The financial cost of a needle- stick injury for the healthcare system can be remarkable; blood tests, treatment, counsel- ling, litigation costs (Johnson, 2011), not- withstanding the psychological implications
for the HCW exposed. Results for blood