Sharing a beer with a friend.

Is it possible to contract Hep C by sharing a drink with someone who has the virus. I was in the bar last night and was sharing a tap beer with a friend. He has Hepatitis C. He and another friend were fooling around (wrestling) before hand and he busted his lip a little bit. When sharing the beer with him I noticed the taste of blood in my mouth. I didn't want to be rude, so I finished the beer with him, thinking that this kind of transmission possibility was far from feasible. Unless I had a cut in my mouth as well. Is this a possible means of transmission, and if so, what is the probability?
Thanks guys.

[Trish77]

Next time your friend with Hep C cuts his lip, don't let him share beer.  Let him know he's bleeding if he doesn't know.   A simple "hey, you cut your lip, man" should do the trick, yes??  

You are right about the transmission method, that you'd have to have a cut in your mouth as well (I'm impressed you know that!) but that's a helluva risk to take just so you won't be being rude.  

The probability IS incredibly low, yes... .but it only takes a little bit of blood and I'd play it safe around ANY blood.  ANY person's blood whether you know they are infected with a blood borne disease or not.  You just never know and THEY may not know.

You'll have to assess for yourself if you want to get tested based on the low probability  but not no probability factor here.  If it were me, I'd do it just to rule out the fluke factor.

Trish

[mar148]

I think if you have a cut with hep c you should avoid sharing anything with anyone anytime, saying that I only have known I have hep c 1 year and may have gotten many years ago, they don't know how I contracted it. I have been married 28 years with 2 children and they do not have it.  I have never been conscious of this until a year ago and they are clear of the virus.  So I really wouldn't worry.   It is not that easy to contract.

[meki]

Scrutinizer - that must be a helluva a friend.

Your situation - to me is a possible transmission route - albeit a very very small one.

Please get tested at least twice in the next six to eight months.

HepC is contagious as a blood to blood disease. And if you had even an open miniscule cut or opening to your blood - you've given the disease an avenue of opportunity to enter your system.

Again --- chances are so slim it's almost negligible.

But please do get it checked.

I am glad you're such a good friend to your friend who has HCV --- Please - take the time to read this forum and others to see how you can support him - and educate him on how to handle it.

If he is HCV pos for antibodies - but viral load clear - you probably have no worries.... I've been trying to find out - but EVERYONE I've talked to - and everything I've read - there has never been a DOCUMENTED KNOWN route of transmission from someone who is SVR to someone who is not infected. If someone has that  - let me know.

Thanks for being such a good friend... But remember - BLOOD is the contagion factor.

So be careful --- but love him just the same - OK?

Hugs,

Meki

[Scrutinizer]

Wow! Thank you guys for such thorough and well rounded/educated answers. It is MUCH
appreciated! My friend is a good friend; and despite this factor I should take precaution (of course). Your advice about being tested will be taken. Thanks again for your most excellent support!
-Scrutinizer