How Long After Possibly Being Exposed To Hepatitis Should You Get A Test To Get The Most Accurate Results?
My girlfriend is a dental assistant and was transferring tools that were used to clean the mouth of a patient that previously had hepatitis. One tool poked her finger thru the bag and she squeezed it until it bled. She doesn’t believe there was blood on the tool and she had her Hep vaccinations last year. There’s probably very little or no chance she could contract Hepatitis thru it, but how long after the incident should she wait to get a blood test to confirm it?
July 30th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
She needs to run a full course of Hep B vaccine, which is three shots. Did she get her blood drawn after the shots to make sure she was immune? There is no shot for Hep C.
How long after exposure to HCV does it take to test positive for HCV antibodies?
Anti-HCV can be found in 70% of people when symptoms begin (6-7 weeks after exposure) and in about 90% of people within 3 months after symptoms begin. However, many people with HCV have no symptoms.
How long after exposure to HCV does it take to test positive with PCR? With the PCR test, it is possible to find HCV within 1-2 weeks after being infected with the virus.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi
She should go to the doctors right away, they will start her on a regimen of anti viral medications that may help her body fight the infection if she was exposed. There are no inoculations for Hep C..only Hep B..The doctor will test her right away and then periodically for a year. Its important to start the antiviral medications as soon as possible after a possible exposure. Hope this helps.