This may be dumb but I'm worries

[Worriedsick555555555]

I have a friend living with me for a bit who has hep C. He had a cist on his elbow he wanted me to pop. A little blood or puss came out and got on my numb.  I bite my nails and I was wondering if this was a risk. Also is sharing drinks a risk?

[portann]

two months!

[Bill1954]

It’s generally believed that HCV remains durable on environmental surfaces for up to four days. However, this recent paper from CROI ’10 suggests longer in IV needles:

Hepatitis C Virus Can Survive in Syringes Up to 2 Months under Favorable Conditions

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/croi/docs/0223_2010_b.html

--Bill

[copyman]

virus can live outside the body for 4-5 days

[deadmanwalking814]

How long can the Hep C virus live, let`s say on tissue or a rag that you used to stop a cut from bleeding? I heard 15 days. Can that be true?

[Worriedsick555555555]

Thank you very much guys. I appreciate your patience with my questions. You have helped given me piece of mind.

[Diane12855]

In case you want one more opinion....... you have to have an open, bleeding wound that your friend's blood gets into... no dried blood allowed... Or you can't catch it from them.

Diane

[Marcia2202]

No!

[Worriedsick555555555]

Would the fact that I bite my nails make it more possible to get in my blood stream?

[Bill1954]

There’s a risk in sharing drinks with your friend if he/she is HCV positive; assuming these drinks are alcoholic.

HCV requires blood to BLOOD transmission, not blood to oral, oral to oral, etc. It’s not considered a classic STD, nor will you get it by getting blood or bodily fluids on you, as long as those fluids don’t enter your bloodstream.

Thanks for taking the time to inquire,

Bill

[Marcia2202]

It's okay. The unknown can sometimes be scary. You can share drinks all you like.

You should just be careful not to get their blood into open cuts etc. So better not to share razors, nail clippers and the like, as there could be a minute chance to contract it that way.... with many 'ifs'

[Worriedsick555555555]

Thank you I'm sorry for the stupid question. I just have anxiety and actually see somebody for it. So both situations I described were no risk?

[Marcia2202]

No risk! Hep c is a blood borne disease. Your friends' blood would need to get into your blood flow. Many of us have had hep c for many years without knowing it and neither passed it on to our spouses nor children.