Transmission through scratch?

[madmaxman]

I was scratched by someone with Hepatitis C.  It was a shallow scratch, but did draw some blood.

Should I be concerned? Should I be tested?

Are there any actions that need to be taken that are time sensative?

[IAmTheWalrus]

Very unlikely to get infected that way.  If you are infected, there is not much to be done about it right away. About 20% of infected persons fight off the virus with their own immune system and do not become chronically infected. If you are still worried after about six weeks you can get a simple HCV anti-body test to see if you have ever been exposed to the virus.

The overwhelmingly common route of transmission is through transfusion of infected blood, either through blood transfusions before the supply was tested for HCV, through sharing of drug paraphenalia (essentially, needles), or medical procedures using equipment not properly sterilized after being used on an infected person (very rare since most of these utensils are now sterile and throw-away after use).

Basically nowadays, with the blood supply monitored and medical hygiene more strict with regard to blood products, if you are not using IV drugs and sharing equipment with an infected person, and not working in health care where you could be exposed to contaminated blood, the chances if getting HCV are very slim indeed. You should worry more about getting hit by lightning.

[Marcia2202]

No chance.... You would need to get the infected person's blood into your blood stream.