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Shared Shaving Tools, Sterilized By Boiling. Chances Of HCV?
Question: Dear Doctor ,
I am very worried about poor decision taken in barber shoop . Uswaly i have my own tools including neck shaving tools , from 3 days back i missed only the cup of shaving cream & shared that belongs to shop .
It was just used by another person shaving & i ordered the the barber man to clean it properly by Boiler Water from 10 - 15 Secondas & from two times , which done .
I read some information on Wkipedia that C can live 8 minutes on 60 C & 4 minutes on 65 C & also is is affected by Chlorine water .Cosidering that i had small injury during my shaving .
Now , iam worried about getting C from the previous person who in unkown to me , considering that C in Egypt represent 15 - 20 % of population .
1. What is the possibility of getting infection ? considering the following :
- Effect of water on diluting the C Virus (In case) as the cup volume is 50 ML & XXXXXXX expected contamination will note exceed 0.1 ML , means 500 times dilution .
- Cleaning the Cup by water which should remove the contamination . 2 Times
- Effect of Boiled Water > 90 C on killing any infection . 2 Times
- Effect of chlorine in water on killing the virus .
- Effect of Sheaving Soap on killing the virus that used during the 1th & 2nd shaving .
2. In case of still there is a propability , when i shoul Test , what Type of Tests should be ?
Pls., iam very worried & waitng your support .
I am very worried about poor decision taken in barber shoop . Uswaly i have my own tools including neck shaving tools , from 3 days back i missed only the cup of shaving cream & shared that belongs to shop .
It was just used by another person shaving & i ordered the the barber man to clean it properly by Boiler Water from 10 - 15 Secondas & from two times , which done .
I read some information on Wkipedia that C can live 8 minutes on 60 C & 4 minutes on 65 C & also is is affected by Chlorine water .Cosidering that i had small injury during my shaving .
Now , iam worried about getting C from the previous person who in unkown to me , considering that C in Egypt represent 15 - 20 % of population .
1. What is the possibility of getting infection ? considering the following :
- Effect of water on diluting the C Virus (In case) as the cup volume is 50 ML & XXXXXXX expected contamination will note exceed 0.1 ML , means 500 times dilution .
- Cleaning the Cup by water which should remove the contamination . 2 Times
- Effect of Boiled Water > 90 C on killing any infection . 2 Times
- Effect of chlorine in water on killing the virus .
- Effect of Sheaving Soap on killing the virus that used during the 1th & 2nd shaving .
2. In case of still there is a propability , when i shoul Test , what Type of Tests should be ?
Pls., iam very worried & waitng your support .
Hi,
I have noted down the details specified in the query and I admit that this is a difficult question to answer as there are no definite reports available on these facts.
HCV is mainly transmitted via blood and blood products and the risk of infection basically depends on the viral load in the host. The most effective way of sterilising the article contaminated with hepatitis C is 'autoclaving' alone. Boiling does not help and bleach used in 1:10 concentration helps. The effect of detergents on HCV virus is not well established.
In your senario the risk appears small as
a) There was some mechanical cleansing and dilution
b) HCV is an envoloped virus and is suseptible to detergents
Though the risks are small, to be on a safer side I would suggest a Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody assay after 3 weeks or a HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after 1 week.
Hope this advice helps you.
Regards
I have noted down the details specified in the query and I admit that this is a difficult question to answer as there are no definite reports available on these facts.
HCV is mainly transmitted via blood and blood products and the risk of infection basically depends on the viral load in the host. The most effective way of sterilising the article contaminated with hepatitis C is 'autoclaving' alone. Boiling does not help and bleach used in 1:10 concentration helps. The effect of detergents on HCV virus is not well established.
In your senario the risk appears small as
a) There was some mechanical cleansing and dilution
b) HCV is an envoloped virus and is suseptible to detergents
Though the risks are small, to be on a safer side I would suggest a Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody assay after 3 weeks or a HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after 1 week.
Hope this advice helps you.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you Doctor & kindly consider the following :
1. All contaminated water had been scavenged (Removed) by Boiled Water during cleaning on water basin by Tap water & iam only afrid if any virus may still touching & living on the Cup XXXXXXX Serface after 2 times cleaning .
2. Regarding PCR is it required Qualitative or Quantitative , some article mention 2 Weeks , what is the Relaiability Percentage for 1 Week & 2 Weeks .
Doctor , We ment by dilution is diluting of blood of the 1th customer (before me) & in case of bleeding for around 500 times by shaving water .
Although that all this contaminated water had been scavenegd in the water basin by Boiled Water > 90 C inorder to make sterilizing & for 2 times . 10 - 15 seconds in each time .
Any further support , at least for question no.2 , PCR related.
Many thanks & your usual understanding will be higly appreicted .
1. All contaminated water had been scavenged (Removed) by Boiled Water during cleaning on water basin by Tap water & iam only afrid if any virus may still touching & living on the Cup XXXXXXX Serface after 2 times cleaning .
2. Regarding PCR is it required Qualitative or Quantitative , some article mention 2 Weeks , what is the Relaiability Percentage for 1 Week & 2 Weeks .
Doctor , We ment by dilution is diluting of blood of the 1th customer (before me) & in case of bleeding for around 500 times by shaving water .
Although that all this contaminated water had been scavenegd in the water basin by Boiled Water > 90 C inorder to make sterilizing & for 2 times . 10 - 15 seconds in each time .
Any further support , at least for question no.2 , PCR related.
Many thanks & your usual understanding will be higly appreicted .
Hi,
Good to hear from you again.
There is no specific data regarding effect of dilution but thorough mechanical cleaning is the first step at disinfection.
HCV is resistant to boiling and the hot tap water may not matter. Presently available PCR assays are very sensitive and can detect acute HCV infection in first week of infection.
The publications have to be interpreted with respect to the time of study as the sensitivity of these assays are progressively improving and the routinely available current assays detect upto 20 HCV RNA / ml.
Hope this answers your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Good to hear from you again.
There is no specific data regarding effect of dilution but thorough mechanical cleaning is the first step at disinfection.
HCV is resistant to boiling and the hot tap water may not matter. Presently available PCR assays are very sensitive and can detect acute HCV infection in first week of infection.
The publications have to be interpreted with respect to the time of study as the sensitivity of these assays are progressively improving and the routinely available current assays detect upto 20 HCV RNA / ml.
Hope this answers your query.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX ,
According to your recommendations , i did HCV RNA Quantitative by TaqMan , Realtime PCR as follows :
- Result < 15 IU/ML (Below Detection Limit)
- Time : 10 Days After Expected Exposure
- Lab Type :The COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan (CAP/CTM), a fully automated real-time PCR used to monitor HCV viremia during treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis and patients undergoing
antiviral therapy. The wide dynamic range of the (CAP/CTM) allowed for a better definition of viral kinetics for all HCV genotypes (1 - 6).
Results are reported in international units (IU).
1 IU/ml Corresponds to approx. 5 Copies/ml.
- Based on the above Data :
1. Is this confirm that i am free from HCV 100 % ?
2. As mater of sience , what is the minimum Expected Virla Load Recorded after 7 or 10 Days Of Exposure ?
3. If still there is porpability for +Ve HCV , What other Tests / Durations requird for it ,such as Repeat PCR , HCV-Ab or Liver Enzyms ?
I am now 14 Days After Exposure & i feel pain in lower left side of stomach , which started after 5 days of exposure , but i have no direa .
Yuor usual support is hihgly apprecited & i am litile bit worried & i hope to close this chapter .
Thanks & Regards ,
According to your recommendations , i did HCV RNA Quantitative by TaqMan , Realtime PCR as follows :
- Result < 15 IU/ML (Below Detection Limit)
- Time : 10 Days After Expected Exposure
- Lab Type :The COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan (CAP/CTM), a fully automated real-time PCR used to monitor HCV viremia during treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis and patients undergoing
antiviral therapy. The wide dynamic range of the (CAP/CTM) allowed for a better definition of viral kinetics for all HCV genotypes (1 - 6).
Results are reported in international units (IU).
1 IU/ml Corresponds to approx. 5 Copies/ml.
- Based on the above Data :
1. Is this confirm that i am free from HCV 100 % ?
2. As mater of sience , what is the minimum Expected Virla Load Recorded after 7 or 10 Days Of Exposure ?
3. If still there is porpability for +Ve HCV , What other Tests / Durations requird for it ,such as Repeat PCR , HCV-Ab or Liver Enzyms ?
I am now 14 Days After Exposure & i feel pain in lower left side of stomach , which started after 5 days of exposure , but i have no direa .
Yuor usual support is hihgly apprecited & i am litile bit worried & i hope to close this chapter .
Thanks & Regards ,
Hi
Thanks for writing back.
The HCV RNA count is reported as <15IU/ml as this the lower limit of detection of this test. Even if it is negative it will be reported as <15IU/ml. As the tests get better the lower limit of detection goes on decreasing (earlier it was <200 then <80 and so on). So technically you are not infected and if you still want to be 100% sure you repeat the test at 4 weeks. The viral load after an infection is a function of the HCV genotype, the infectious innoculum and the immune status of the recepient
Regards
Thanks for writing back.
The HCV RNA count is reported as <15IU/ml as this the lower limit of detection of this test. Even if it is negative it will be reported as <15IU/ml. As the tests get better the lower limit of detection goes on decreasing (earlier it was <200 then <80 and so on). So technically you are not infected and if you still want to be 100% sure you repeat the test at 4 weeks. The viral load after an infection is a function of the HCV genotype, the infectious innoculum and the immune status of the recepient
Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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