How much blood is needed to get Hep C?

[dolly718]

Hey,
Just curious as to how much blood would be needed to contract Hep C?  My situation: I work at a tattoo shop.  A very small amount of some liquid, possibly diluted ink with trace amounts of blood in it, or possibly just water [no idea] got into my eye.  Lets say it was the ink and the person it belonged to has Hep C, would I be at risk?  It was only a drop, not a lot, no liquid on my face or anything and the water/ink had diluted the blood.

Thanks!

[franke566]

You a funny guy FlGuy-I like to fell out of my chair:  Not that i have any experience in the aforementioned!  LOL But you are right.  And the eye is a veritable petri dish for a virus to grow,  In fact most of our viruses including Rhino Viruses go from surface to hand to eye washed down the tear duct and that nasty critter has a home. YOU.  As an artist Dolly you need to wear a full Face Shield.

[newleaf09]

I reread your post.  Your eye probably is not a good entry point.  You'd be more at risk with a fresh cut.  Get screened in a few months for your peace of mind, but you likely have not been contaminated.

[newleaf09]

Viral particles are so miniscule that they cannot be seen with a microscope.  Only under an electron microscope after they've been shattered with gold to get them to show up.  So tiny that the tiniest blood to blood contact can move the virus from one host to another.

[FlGuy]

It doesn't take much in a blood to blood contact.  I'll give you an example.  Let's say there are a few buddies shooting up some heroin. One might be infected.  That one cooks up the goods and draws in the mixture. Finding a vein he draws back the plunger, sees blood which confirms that he's on the right track. Then, plunges the stuff in.  The next player in the game takes the syringe and draws water in and presses it out a couple of time.  Looks good and clean to him.  He follws the process of the first guy who is now laying on the couch scratching his crotch and suverying the ceiling. For number two, he's done enough to earn the badge.
Not that I have any expereince in the aforementioned....