Hep C Test question

[bostoninfo]

I had a false positive Hep C test a while back so I am very sensitive to possible risk exposures. All follow up tests turned out to be negative.  In turn it has unfortunately gave me much anxiety about possible risks and avoiding them.

My Question. I was cut at a barber shop and I wanted to know true risk of the situation. I know its considered low risk but I wanted to ask anyway.  The barber said he uses new disposable razors with all customers.  Saying that I still have some doubts of the situation because of the anxiety my prior false positive gave me.  For piece of mind i went ahead and got a antibody test about 40 days after the "possible" exposure which was negative.  I was told by the counselor at Fenway health here in Boston that in their training they are told anything after 5 weeks basically rules out infection.  Would this be the case as in with HIV that at about 6 weeks the vast majority will show antibodies and that the 3 month window in Hep C testing is only to cover Immuno suppressed individuals?  Or do Hep C antibodies take longer than HIV antibodies to develop?

Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  Our focus in this forum is HIV and HIV prevention and, because persons at risk for HIV may also sexually acquire hepatitis b or, rarely, hepatitis C, we try to stay up to day on this subject as well.  Having said that, I am not an expert in hepatitis C and do not actively follow the literature on hepatitis C testing.  Antibody development to viruses, including hepatitis C, follows pretty much the same time course however and thus, by nearly 6 weeks when you got your test, it would be expected that nearly all normal persons who are not otherwise immunocompromised would have made detectable antibodies if they'd been infected.

When you combine the low risk of infection from nicks at the barber shop, your barber's use of disposable razors, and your negative antibody test, it is safe to presume that you are not infected with hepatitis C.  I would not worry further and see no reason for further testing related to the event you describe.

I hope that this comment is helpful. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Final answer.  I am not a hepatitis C virologist and cannot answer your question.  CDC tends to be overly concervative in their answers.  .  I do think however that you are worrying over something that is a non-issue.  

End of thread. EWH

[bostoninfo]

And im talking about having it soak in a solution.  I know wiping it off will remove most if not all of the blood.  Im basically asking if the H2O2 it self destroys hep c cells.  Thanks again

[bostoninfo]

Sorry to circle back to this thread way after but i have been getting conflicting answers on this.  CDC says no but other sites say it will.  Does regular household Hydrogen peroxide work to kill off any hep c virus if blood were to get on a straight razor/clipper etc?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm pleased I could help. Take care. EWH

[bostoninfo]

Thanks Doctor.  My main concern was if antibodies produce at different times with different viruses and you answered that.  Much appreciated

[bostoninfo]

Thanks Doctor.  My main concern was if antibodies produce at different times with different viruses and you answered that.  Much appreciated.

[bostoninfo]

One last thing to clarify.  They said the window with new tests is 4-10 weeks but the CDC has told them 4-6 weeks is good with anybody with a normal immune system.