Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)/AETC National HIV Telephone Consultation Service (Warmline)

The National HIV/AIDS Clinician’s Consultation Center, the PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) line, the Warmline, and the AETC Technical Assistance site is housed at San Francisco General Hospital.

They offer health care providers up-to-the-minute clinical information and case consultation. Staffed by clinicians experienced in HIV care, the Warmline supports health care providers in caring for their patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV disease, enabling more patients to remain in their communities with their own medical providers and social support networks.

Exposure to blood-borne pathogens can present serious risks to health care providers. Prompt post-exposure treatment for HIV and hepatitis B virus can be effective, but because each exposure case is unique, determining who should receive prophylaxis and which drugs are most appropriate is not always easy.

The National Clinicians' Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline) offers treating clinicians up-to-the-minute advice on managing occupational exposures (i. e., needlesticks, splashes, etc.) to HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne pathogens.

PEPline clinicians will respond to your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Emergency calls made during evening, weekend, and holiday hours are forwarded to on-call clinicians. Non-emergency calls will be returned during business hours. 

Clinicians will help assess the risk of the exposure, discuss the most recent post-exposure prophylaxis protocols, and review specific treatment and follow-up options. Written materials supporting the telephone discussion are sent by mail or fax whenever needed.