waiting period for Hep C lab?

swiles1252 · Sep 29, 2011

I would call planned parent and ask them. I'm not sure myself but I think they would know.

pumpkinseeds · Sep 29, 2011

Last year I got a bloody hep c needle stick. I was tested immediately (to prove my baseline was neg) then at 1, 3 and 6 months. thankfully all were negative. I recommend the health department. I went there because I'm agency and no one seemed to want to pay for it and the health department only charged 25 bucks. I skipped the 3 months because they told me if I tested positive there would be nothing to do until/unless my liver failed, and if I tested neg I would still have to retest at the 6 month mark.

Try not to worry. I know it's scary but an infectious disease doc told me the transmission risk is really pretty low. I got a deep stick from a 20 gauge bloody drippy iv needle and I still tested negative.

pumpkinseeds · Sep 29, 2011

I forgot to mention the health department is a pretty interesting place. A guy informed me that he and I needed to make "sweet sweet love" but then when he saw I was idly reading a syphillis info sheet he changed his mind. Still, one I've the best propositions I've received in months.

core0 · Sep 29, 2011

I hate to ask this here but I can't find it on the CDC or in my books. And am too embarrassed to ask my instructors. If someone has sexual contact with a person who might have had sexual contact with a person infected with Hep C...
Is there any period of time before a person should get tested? the first test at least?
I know the risk is lower for sexual contact but still worth testing for right?

1 to 6 months. Average is 6 to 10 weeks.

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/whocdscsrlyo2003/en/index3.html

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2011

I hate to ask this here but I can't find it on the CDC or in my books. And am too embarrassed to ask my instructors. If someone has sexual contact with a person who might have had sexual contact with a person infected with Hep C...
Is there any period of time before a person should get tested? the first test at least?
I know the risk is lower for sexual contact but still worth testing for right?

I think you need tocontact your docotr for follow up and advice or seek care at planned parenthood or free clinic. We can't give medical advice here and this sounds personal for someone...all the best!:)

MySonIsAdorable · Sep 30, 2011

:) I am embarrassed because I don't know the answer LOL. Just figured someone here might know. My cousin isn't worried but I think that she should have waited longer than one week, just seems like it would take longer. So I

PSPam · Oct 3, 2011

If there wasn't any blood exchanged during sex, you don't have to worry at all. Hepatitis C is only transmitted blood to blood. Sexual transmission, thus far, is only found in the HIV co-infected gay male population due to anal and member abrasions and tears.

MySonIsAdorable · Nov 6, 2011

My cousin got tested, so far nothing BUT she did find out that she contracted genital herpes the other woman said she didn't think it would pass along because she wasn't on an outbreak she said that the saddest part is that she cannot trust her partner anymore.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2011

"if there wasn't any blood exchanged during sex, you don't have to worry at all. hepatitis c is only transmitted blood to blood. sexual transmission, thus far, is only found in the hiv co-infected gay male population due to anal and member abrasions and tears."

not true. it's perfectly possible to have small abrasions intralady partslly, or have a delicate frenulum, or bleeding gums, and swap blood without it being evident visually.

PSPam · Nov 6, 2011

hi grn tea. at first i thought you missed the point entirely but then i realized you made it for me "not true. it's perfectly possible to have small abrasions intralady partslly, or have a delicate frenulum, or bleeding gums, and swap blood without it being evident visually."

there has to be the blood to blood transmission. i didn't say you have to *visually see* blood fling from one body to another. small abrasions, bleeding gums, etc. is blood to blood. so far the only population that passes hep c sexually is the coinfected msm's who have rectal and penile abrasions and cuts - thus there has to be a blood to blood transmission! this could also happen at your barber shop, beauty parlor, nail salon, tattoo shop and you wouldn't see the blood but since it can live in the air for up to 4 days, improper sterilization and then nicking the next "customer" is a blood to blood transmission that you "can't see". same with dental offices, md offices, endoscopy centers, pain clinics, cancer centers that reuse tubing, syringes and other "cost cutters" thinking that simply changing out the needle is enough. if dipped back into the vial it lives there for 4 days. google las vegas endoscopy center and see that 44,000 people were called back several years ago because of improper procedures. you are more likely to pick it up at a medical facility than having sex that doesn't involve a blood exchange. one needle, one syringe, one time!!