Can I get Hep C through a dry but small cut on my knuckle

[Oblivion656]

What happened. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. With soap and water. I didn't notice it at first, but there was blood on the left handle in the sink (dot of a blood stain) (I know it was blood because there was blood in the trash can, I think someone got injured). I don't remember if there was blood on the right handle. But the right handle is what I used to wash my hands (You have to push on it for a second to get water to come out, then let go). My concern was that I had a small cut on my left hand on my knuckle due to skin dryness. And I was thinking that without really noticing it, I picked up dry blood from the right handle on my palm, because you have to push it down. And then when I washed my hands, what if the soap and water plus the dried blood could have mixed into the cut and I get a virus from it. Because Hepatitis C doesn't die with soap.

The probability is that if the dried blood did have hep c, I would have washed the dried blood off the palm of my right hand into the sink. And it didn't mix into my small cut on my knuckle. Or my concern was there was no blood on the right handle to begin with. The reason why I think there could have been, was that without me noticing it, I washed the dried blood away by continually pressing it, and I had soap in my hands.

I have been researching this for a couple of hours. And the research shows that the blood has to mix into the cut and I would have to rub it in, but I didn't do that, because the blood would have been in my right hand on my palm. Only my fingers would have touched it. And another thing is that the cut wasn't fresh, but I would consider it open. But it's been there for a while due to skin dryness. I think somebody said that there is a very small chance if it was bleeding. And it wasn't even bleeding.

So what are my chances of catching it, or is it just an impossible scenario and I don't have to worry. Please help me, I just don't want to worry or anything. And if there is any other information I'm leaving out let me know.

[Oblivion656]

"hepatitis via garbage", that one didn't worry me that much. After the first week I was over it. I didn't see any blood, big difference. And it was my own garbage.

I did say all the moons and planets would have to aline for this scenario to come true.

Like I said I did research. I guess I should be more cautious with open cuts on my hand.

After 3 months I'll just stop worrying about it after no symptoms. I don't think I should take HCV PCR test, it will make matters worse. I'll research the numbers and continue taking more tests.

I guess I'll be fine, thanks.

[ceanothus]

I'm sorry, but I think you'd be better off worrying about a more real risk, like getting hit by an asteroid. No one can completely rule out any scenario because there are always some unknown factors - we learn more every day and we are constantly refining what we "know". So we can't say you absolutely can't catch it via that scenario but the odds are so minuscule that its absolutely not worth your time worrying over it.  Since you also posted just two weeks ago about catching hepatitis via garbage, I think you are developing a bit of an obsession over HCV, and I'd recommend looking into counseling for obsessive-compulsive disorder. If not, you might need to set up a special arrangement with a good blood lab to have an HCV PCR test done on a monthly basis to ease your concerns, and that would be expensive. Try looking into OCD first. Best wishes!

[Oblivion656]

The thing of it is, point one, is that, washing your hands technically is suppose to be healthy. Heck, I do it more often then I should.

Which why it urks me when I did my research I found out that Hepatitis C doesn't die with soap and water. According to most sources.

Point two is that a virus is very very small, microscopic. So all it takes is a little blood, to the point where you can barely see it. Because it's not like I got a bunch of someones blood on my hand. I just saw blood nearby. And you would think I would have saw the blood on the right handle(cold). But it's possible I could have missed it. But when I finally actually noticed the blood until I saw it in the garbage. Then I looked closely at the sink. I noticed there was a blood spot on the left handle (hot). I didn't notice anything on the right handle. (cold) But I thought I to myself I could have washed it off the handle without even knowing.

So yeah, technically it could be possible that I got the blood on my palm. And maybe when I was washing my hands. It's possible the soap, the blood, and the water I was mixing it in my hands. And it could have touched the open small cut (but not fresh cut).

Now here is what I was thinking to myself over and over to calm my mind.
I washed the blood off my hand, I washed the blood off my hand. And there is no way any blood got near my little cut.

But when I review my technique on how I usually wash my hands. It could have been possible I didn't get all the blood off, and I could have gotten it on my right hand and on my fingers and then used my right hand fingers and touched the cut on my left hand.

I don't know, it's just paranoia to the core. Or what it is with me. So it urks me the most when I was doing something healthy like washing my hands. But after doing research on the internet. I'm a little worried.

I know it's like all the moons and planets and stars would have to align perfectly and everything I know about this plus, the chances that this injured person had hepatitis. Everything would come full circle. So that's my chance of getting something. It's crazy.

Maybe there is something medically I don't know. What defies blood to blood contact. I never heard of blood to cut contact. The blood would mix in the cut and then be like, let's go back into the blood stream now? Like I could take some blood and insert into my blood stream by putting it on a cut?

My mind wants to make it so there is a possibility of it. And it worked really good doing the research. Research did say chances are less likely the way I'm describing I think. But why would there be a chance. Are there more factors I'm missing?

[can-do-man]

Way to many 'what ifs' for it to be much of a risk if any. Get tested if it helps, myself I wouldn't give it another thought........