Recent Activity Risk?

[titan64]

I had a blood bothers ritual with my brothers good friend and him after a long night of drinking.  I was hesitant but went through with it.  The friend has no known infection or my brother.  both are over 40 and married.  I am not sure on their past youth activities.  I am a lot younger.  The friend cut his hand pretty deep.  Then I hesitated and inspected the knife for blood and didnt see any.  I then gave my self a very superficial wound.  Almost like a bad paper cut where I had to squeeze the blood out. I barely broke skin enough to bleed. My brother went next, then we all shook hands.  I tried to avoid direct wound contact.  I noticed their blood on my hand but I am not sure if it came in contact with my cut.  I wiped and washed my hand a few minutes later.

I am concerned about HIV and hepatitis transmission. I was told Zero for HIV from the HIV forum. What are my risk factors and what should i be tested for, and how long should I wait?  Even though no one has a known infection I still possess a high anxiety level over this action I should have avoided.  I appreciate your input.  Thank you!

[suezeeque]

Most likely a tattoo in the early 80s.

[titan64]

Any idea how you got it?

[suezeeque]

Two years ago I was over 40, married, with no known infection.

Yeah.  Here I am.

[MeWithC]

I was a metal worker.......besides getting sliced all the time, once two of us got cut on the same burr in our palm.......We stood there & looked at each other for a sec & did the same thing....blood brothers.........didn't even think about that stuff 25-30 years ago......

[titan64]

Thank you.  You seem very knowledgable.  Ill wait 4 weeks for HIV and 6 months should be suficient for hep C..I have researched 3 weeks for a HCV RNA  PCR but they still say retest in 6 months, plus they are expensive...I talked with a clinic today and they said it seemed low risk for both.  I agree the circumstances were ridiculous, and I have only put myself in this position, but I appreciate your willingness to provide information.

[BoceprevirGal]

Thanks titan64. I'm on this Hep C medication right now, and it is curing my virus, and even better medicine is coming out for it, within 5~7 yrs. There is also much better medicine for HIV right now, as well...people are taking meds, and living with HIV, rather then dying from it.
   But everybody has to take Universal Precautions, and avoid contact with blood. But it's so rare to catch Hep, without the risk of needles, or a blood transfusion, back before 1992.
   I wouldn't wait 3 months, for Hep C test. If you catch it in the first 6 months, which is when it would be in the "acute phase" then you can treat it just with Interferon shots, and most people get over it. Wait 4 weeks, and get tested, they have a swab test now, for the cheek, for both those viruses. With HIV, 6 weeks would be the least, 6 months would tell more, I imagine, but I'm no expert.

[titan64]

Thanks will.  I know I was ok.......Just not sure on them I guess. My brother just had surgery and he is good and the other has been married for 30 years with 4 kids.....no guarantees, bad idea, but I will get tested.  

[titan64]

Thanks for the comments.  Maybe Boceprevigal you are right that new posters come on here.  However, your responses are helping people, and I appreciate everyone's response.  Any suggestions on tests and waiting periods?

HIV at 4-6 weeks?
3 months to be sure on Hep C?

[crigger]

You need to get tested

[BoceprevirGal]

Yeah, and it sounds like a good way to get HIV as well.
     I just get a  little jaded sometimes, with these posters, with the new accounts, that ask these types of "infectious disease" questions, because we get alot of people with OCD, on this forum. They tend to obsess on their fear of catching diseases, and come on here, to talk about it, it's almost like they cant help themselves, like people who have to wash their hands all the time.
   I'm just hoping that's what this is, and not really a grown person, who actually did something as high-risk.

[willbb]

Agree with James..When blood is involved and no -one knows what disease the other one has all should be tested for all blood borne virus.

I know you would feel bad if you gave your brother and his friend HCV

Good luck and let us know how everyones tests turn out..
Will

[James10500]

That sounds like an ideal way to get Hep C. You should get tested.  

[BoceprevirGal]

Hmmm, well, if my memory serves me right, one out of 33 of the Baby-Boomers do have Hep C...I always tell my kids not to do the "blood brothers thing".