Guard stabbed with syringe awaiting result

A Hobart security guard stabbed in the chest with a syringe by an alleged thief faces a nervous wait to get a medical all-clear.

The 58-year-old man was working at Eastlands shopping centre at about 3pm (AEDT) on Thursday when he followed a woman suspected of shoplifting, police said.

Minutes later in a nearby car park the woman turned on him, armed with a syringe of unknown contents, and the guard was stabbed.

"He's received precautionary treatment as a result ... testing is still being conducted," Constable Sarah Wilson told reporters on Friday.

"The security guard is doing okay, obviously it's going to have an effect on him."

The detective added the alleged assault was unusual in nature.

"Assaults with the use of a syringe is certainly uncommon," she said.

A 32-year-old Bridgewater woman is due to face court charged with aggravated armed robbery and other offences.