You Spit, We take Your Blood - Mandatory Disease Testing

Mandatory disease testing doesn’t make sense clinically or ethically, said AMA (NSW) President, Dr Danielle McMullen, who is scheduled to appear at the Law and Justice Committee hearing on Mandatory Disease Testing today. The hearing is being held as part of the Law and Justice Committee’s Inquiry into the Mandatory Disease Testing Bill, which would enforce mandatory disease testing on individuals whose bodily fluids have come in contact with frontline workers. “While the risk of transmission is extremely low, we acknowledge the seriousness of blood-borne viruses and the depth of concern that exists among frontline workers about the risk of potential exposure," Dr McMullen said. "However, there is no clinical rationale for mandatory disease testing." Clinical evidence shows that the risk of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV transmission from a known positive source through blood and saliva to unbroken skin and skin-to-skin contact is zero. There have been no published cases of spitting causing HIV transmission. There have been no published cases of HIV transmission in Australia through spitting or biting.