Does Hepatitis C survive laundering?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok..so here I am worrying late at night. A few months back I got some Hep C blood on my pants. I should have just thrown them in the garbage! Ughh...

But I didnt...I ran peroxide over the stain. Washed them on cold, then on hot (with bleach I think, probably). Can I just tell you all how stupid I feel? Ugh anyway please honestly tell me I didnt just expose my whole family?

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Specializes in Hematology-oncology.

Here is a link to the Hep C frequently asked questions page from the CDC.

Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public | Division of Viral Hepatitis | CDC

Please talk to your personal doctor about any other questions or concerns you may have, as I can't give you medical advice.

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The CDC li k doesn't get too specific. I made a doctors appointment. I feel so stupid. I should have just thrown the pants away!!

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This is a question for OSHA. Did your shoes get exposed?

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No. I told my supervisor. ED MD said low risk, but Indidnt ask about laundering my clothing. I should have just tossed ,not sure why I didnt

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I'm going to go all out right now and expose myself in hopes that it can help you (and perhaps others) feel better.... I was Hep C positive (cured with Harvoni!). I've been "intimate" with my husband and gave birth to 2 children before I knew I had it. During the birth of my son, his and my blood actually came into contact with one another, as evidenced by an ABO incompatibility reaction he had, since we had different blood types.... After being diagnosed, one year after the birth of my son (second child), I was certain as to the time frame in which I contracted it, which was before I met my husband, and I completely panicked at the thought of passing it to him and/or my children. After grueling bloodwork was done, it was confirmed that both children and my husband never contracted it. After extensive research, I came to find that this was not us being "lucky," but was actually quite the norm... Hep C is MUCH harder to spread to others than most would think. So I am 99.99999999% (honestly, I'm sure I can say 100%) sure you are safe. However, it is always best to be safe and get confirmation.

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If I had to put money on this, I'd go with you and your family being PERFECTLY fine, with absolutely no hesitation. I don't think it would even occur to me to worry about this after having laundered my clothes with bleach as you stated you had done.

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I'm going to go all out right now and expose myself in hopes that it can help you (and perhaps others) feel better.... I was Hep C positive (cured with Harvoni!). I've been "intimate" with my husband and gave birth to 2 children before I knew I had it. During the birth of my son, his and my blood actually came into contact with one another, as evidenced by an ABO incompatibility reaction he had, since we had different blood types.... After being diagnosed, one year after the birth of my son (second child), I was certain as to the time frame in which I contracted it, which was before I met my husband, and I completely panicked at the thought of passing it to him and/or my children. After grueling bloodwork was done, it was confirmed that both children and my husband never contracted it. After extensive research, I came to find that this was not us being "lucky," but was actually quite the norm... Hep C is MUCH harder to spread to others than most would think. So I am 99.99999999% (honestly, I'm sure I can say 100%) sure you are safe. However, it is always best to be safe and get confirmation.

You'd be surprised how hard it is to spread many of the blood borne pathogens we routinely worry about. Hep b is certainly among the easiest, but all of them need a series of "right" situations to happen in order for transmission and appropriate infection.

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