HCV lifetime outside body

Question

I was just wondering:

how long can HCV live in blood outside of the body?

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

FlGuy · Answer

If you are looking for your point (no pun intended) of infection, that one seems a little remote.  Any other possibilities, other piercings, tatoo, transfusion, medical or dental procedures, IV drug use, bar fight with NYgirl???????

greekneos · Answer

I know I am getting tiring but can HCV be found to animals?

redz11 · Answer

I had been told by dr 72 hrs ..But have read on internet it   Could live in dried blood up to 4 days and certain disinfectents wont even kill it .I bandage every knick and scratch now. No sense in passing it on ,Verry scary makes me wonder were i really got it ??? ill probally never know...

sindog · Answer

Bleach will kill it. General rule, 10% for 10 minutes.

greekneos · Answer

So there is no possibility of being infected by a needle which had not been used for more than 10 days. Right?

And something else. I burnt the needle with my lighter. I think that fire kills the virus (if it was on the needle). Right?

Thank you all!

Alady1620 · Answer

Burning the needle makes no difference.  There is no type of sterilization that will "clean" a dirty needle.  That is how I got tricked into using somebody else's needle and that is how I caught HCV.

HCV can live up to 3 days outside of the body, possibly longer.  

It sounds to me like you need to get yourself tested.

Kalio1 · Answer

Not necessarily. I have heard it can live longer than what others are saying. It can be dried out too and still be alive. I wouldn't bank on 4 days being a definate. I have heard as long as 10-14 days could be possible. Never underestimate the power of this virus.
You mean you used a lighter to "sterilize" it? 
I wouldn't depend on that being reliable.

Like sindog said, a mild beach solution, that works.

greekneos · Answer

well I used a needle that I found at my home. None of my family members have HVC (they have done the check up tests).I took the needle, put some alcohol on it, and also burnt it and then pierced my ear.

What I am afraid about is whether the needle was brought at home from outside.

NYgirl · Answer

It's a lot longer than I had thought that much I know - days is a very scary concept isn't it?

Kalio1 · Answer

Eve if you used your lighter, it is the tube inside the needle that is the problem with dirty needles where the drugs pass through the needle, that can not be sterilized.
I agree you need to be tested for HCV and HIV.

Kalio1 · Answer

I don't understand, you used a needle you found ying around? You mean a sewing needle or a neddle that was used for injecting drugs?

greekneos · Answer

A sewing needle for piercing my ear

Kalio1 · Answer

Ok, I thought you meant a drug needle. They are different, one is hollow one is not. If no one has this virus and they wouldn't be using it for purposes of piercing their skin for any reason, it was just a regular sewing needle, I'd figure you are ok, you left out the part about using alcohol in your first post. I'd think the heat and the alcohol would be ok but in the future don't poke yourself with any unsterilized objects. You could get a nasty infection.

greekneos · Answer

No one used it for piercing their skin.

Thank you!

Alady1620 · Answer

I thought he was talking about drug needles too.  Next time, I need to get more info before I respond.  LOL

sindog · Answer

I beleive about four days.

HCV lifetime outside body

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