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Possible transmission question

Hi all,

Just checking on the possibility of getting hep C from a piercing in my lip. I went to have an old piercing reopened so the piercer asked me to wait 15 minutes for the taper to be sterilized (I'm assuming with an autoclave) as he was not using a needle so the tool needed to be properly cleaned if it had possibly been used previously. I know I saw no blood on the taper but I wasn't inspecting it up close. IF the taper had been contaminated is it possible to get it this way? I'm sorry for any ignorance I'm just concerned and probably have a touch of OCD as the piercer explained to me the importance of spore testing and sterilization etc and he sounded very educated


Thanks a million
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Avatar universal
Thanks Lynn :)
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683231 tn?1467323017
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/cFAQ.htm

Can you get Hepatitis C by getting a tattoo or piercing?

A few major research studies have not shown Hepatitis C to be spread through licensed, commercial tattooing facilities. However, transmission of Hepatitis C (and other infectious diseases) is possible when poor infection-control practices are used during tattooing or piercing. Body art is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and unregulated tattooing and piercing are known to occur in prisons and other informal or unregulated settings. Further research is needed to determine if these types of settings and exposures are responsible for Hepatitis C virus transmission.  
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