What is my risk?

[scaredhelp266]

Hello, I was in a fight the other day (Not my fault) during the fight I felt something go into my eye.  I believe it may gave been blood from the other fellow.  If he has HCV and the blood drop got into my eye can I be infected with HCV.  I have no other risk factors. Please let me know as I am anxious about this.

Thanks so so much in advance for your answers

God Bless

[Jakied]

your risk is about the same as your chance of winning the lottery.  Forget about this

and move on with life.

[GFRY]

if you are so worried & need to do test quickly to put your doubt to rest qualitative PCR RNA is so confirmatory , you can do it 2 weeks from exposure, but i think virus can't penetrate intact mucous membranes

[scaredhelp266]

What test can I take after a week or two of exposure??

[scaredhelp266]

I had no cuts and was not bleeding at all. just the one eye got one drop of blood in it.

[adamben101]

Meant to add, your risk is low but you will simply have to wait a few months before anti-body testing.  If negative for AB's, I would still test again 6 mos later.  Then you're either clear or educating yourself on your options.  It's a crappy wait, but we've all been doing it.

[adamben101]

I was also infected from a fight.  A one-punch fight.  I never saw the guy or met him or anything.  He attacked me and my girlfriend and broke my nose.  The police report said he had bloody knuckles and I had a bloody face.  It had to be this episode bc I never had any risk factors before and have always gotten regular checkups and bloodwork.  It ***** that I'm paying for someone else's stupidy!

[HectorSF]

Hepatitis C virus is spread when blood of an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected, such as through sharing needles or "works" when shooting drugs or occupational needle stick injury. The risk of sexual transmission has not been thoroughly studied but appears to be low in long-term, monogamous relationships. There is no evidence that the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted by casual contact such as hugging or shaking hands, through foods, by sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or by coughing or sneezing.

The hepatitis C virus is spread by blood-to-blood contact.
It has to enter your blood stream.
So if your eye wasn't bleeding there is no chance of transmission.

Hectorsf

[scaredhelp266]

Do I need testing? Or do I not need to worry

[GSDgirl]

Well since you didn't start the fight luck is on your side, your chances are slim to probably zero.

[scaredhelp266]

Thanks mk,   Anyone else have any in site on this?

[mk_]

HCV transmission by splashing blood into the eyes is rare but sounds like it is possible.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14647113

However, like you said, only if the guy has HCV and that something got into your eyes was his blood for sure. You can take the HCV antibody test in next a few months or so if you are in doubt.