Thank you very much for your insightful advice. I feel much better now. Still, I will get tested after 10 weeks time. Thanks again
Thank you very much for your advice.
There were no visible blood on my hand or on his face. The scratch on my knuckle was superficial. After peel off the skin and a hard squeeze, tiny amount of blood came out. Can microscopic (not detectable by naked eye) amount of blood be infectious? If so, how could I prevent day to day body contact with strangers who might have a cut from transmitting HCV to me?
No one here can accurately assess your risk, only give you opinions as there are no stats on the transmission of hep c from fist fights, hep c is spread from blood to blood contact.
IMO, maybe a very slight risk but doubtful, if your worried wait the proper amount of time and get tested.
How soon after exposure to HCV can anti-HCV be detected?
HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests (enzyme immunoassay) 4–10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure.
How soon after exposure to HCV can HCV RNA be detected by PCR?
HCV RNA appears in blood and can be detected as early as 2–3 weeks after infection.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5.
Have a great day
HCV is transmitted primarily through large or repeated percutaneous (i.e., passage through the skin) exposures to infectious blood, such as
•Injection drug use (currently the most common means of HCV transmission in the United States)
•Receipt of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
•Needlestick injuries in health care settings
•Birth to an HCV-infected mother
HCV can also be spread infrequently through
•Sex with an HCV-infected person (an inefficient means of transmission)
•Sharing personal items contaminated with infectious blood, such as razors or toothbrushes (also inefficient vectors of transmission)
•Other health care procedures that involve invasive procedures, such as injections (usually recognized in the context of outbreaks)
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5.
What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?
Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm#cFAQ31
If you are going to live your whole life in fear of contracting hep c from day to day life, or tiny specs of blood you can't see, then I suggest that you seek professional help for your anxiety issue's
Have a great day