Worried about hepatitis C

[Cyndy1209]

Hi all,

Recently I went to an AIDS clinic to have a rapid finger prick hiv test. After the test, when I was leaving, I pushed open the glass door using its handles. At that point of time, my lips were super dry and had cuts in them, one of them was actively bleeding as I could taste blood in my mouth. What are the chances that I will contact hepatitis C if there were traces of dried blood on the door handle (since everyone had a finger prick test) which my hand came into contact with and considering that I might have touched my bleeding lips?

Also, when i reached home, I lied down on the bed immediately in my outdoor clothes and I am worried that any blood or virus from the chairs I sat in might have transferred to the bed. If my lips had come into contact with the bed, would I get infected?

I really hope someone could enlighten me on this. I do plan to get an antibody test done but that is only till 3 months later. Meanwhile I am having sleepless nights worrying about this and I cant get anything done. I simply cant afford any DAA drugs such as Harvoni as they are super expensive and I heard the side effects of peginterferon and ribavirin are super bad. Totally feel like crying now.

[flyinlynn]

Here is some additional information on what hep C is and how it's diagnosed that could help you understand your status and when you might want to get tested.

http://www.medhelp.org/hepatitis-c/articles/What-Is-Hepatitis-C/2251

http://www.medhelp.org/hepatitis-c/articles/Diagnosing-Hepatitis-C/2273

[flyinlynn]

You odds are extremely low. Hep c infected blood must enter your blood stream. It is transmitted by blood to blood contact. For example a medical worker who experiences an accidental needlestick involving a patient with known hepatitis C their odds of transmission are only about 1.8%  

So obviously your odds would be all the more lower to practically nonexistent. There have been no known incidents of contracting hep c in the manner you have described.

No one is treating with interferon anymore in the US. It would be a waste of time to use a medicine that is only about 30% effective when the new medicines are about 98% effective and have minimal side effects.

Yes the new DAA meds are expensive but there are ways to obtain treatment even without insurance.

However you likely do not need to concern your self with the  cost of treatment as your odds of contracting hep c are near zero.

If it will put your mind at ease you can have an antibody test after 12 weeks but I would bet anything you are worrying over nothing.

[Cyndy1209]

Hi, thanks for the reply. May I know if the actively bleeding cut in my lips is considered too superficial for any contamination from dried blood? It hurts to even smile though because of the cut.

Also, I am from Singapore where DAA meds are not available yet because of patent issues as well as cost of bringing them in from overseas. So far people have been using interferon as the sole solution.

I am planning to have an antibody test after 12 weeks but I am also looking for some information during this long wait (I get anxious and panicky over this sort of things). Sorry if I seemed kinda paranoid but I really have to know. Many thanks in advance :)

[Cyndy1209]

Then again I have been doing my research online which mentioned that hcv can stay active in dried blood from a duration of 16 hours to 4 days which kinda scares me.

Also, I am aware that there is zero risk if dried blood comes in contact with intact skin. However, I do have an actively bleeding cut on my lips (since i could taste blood), so I am wondering if there might be some cross infection involved from the dried blood (assuming there is) to my lips.

[flyinlynn]

Hep c infected blood must enter your blood stream like in the case of an accidental needle stick. There have been no know transmissions in the manner you have described.

It is highly unlikely you would contract hep c in this situation  

[Cyndy1209]

Thanks for your reply. One last question, can the virus enter the bloodstream through fresh cuts in the skin?

[flyinlynn]

Yes in theory if they are wet weeping wounds