In Australia, the greatest risk for the transmission of Hep C is through blood-to-blood contact involved in the sharing or re-using of needles and syringes. This means if you share, or re-use, any injecting equipment including your:

• syringes
• water
• spoons
• tourniquets
• swabs
• filters
• even if there are bits of blood on your hands, or
• on the injecting surface, tiny bits too small for the eye to see

You could get Hep C.

Hep C is a very hardy virus that can live outside of the body for some time. There is no 100% guarantee of eliminating the risk of HCV from bleaching or cleaning used syringes.

However, there is no evidence that people living with Hep C transmit the virus to others they live with through shared use of toilets or laundry. Also there is no evidence of transmission through shared household items such as cups, dishes or cutlery. Sharing personal items such as toothbrushes and razors can pose a transmission risk, through tiny bits of blood you cannot see. However, the risk is thought to be very low as the infected blood must also enter your bloodstream.

HCV is not a sexually transmissible infection (STI) however, rough sex or anal sex that could involve blood could transmit Hep C.

Genotypes of Hep C

Hepatitis C is a term used to describe a group of viruses that are so similar that they can be defined as one yet, are different enough to be grouped into 'types". Confused? Well read on and find out the facts on hepatitis C genotypes:

• There are several identifiable 'families' of hepatitis C virus that have been observed around the world, differing slightly from each other in their genetic makeup. The most commonly used classification system lists these 'families' as genotype 1, 2, 3, etc.
• Within each genotype, differences between viruses exist - too small to be seen as a different new genotype but significant enough and measurable, thus making the term sub-type applicable. These lesser classifications are described as subtype 1a or 1b, etc.
• The different genotypes are found all over the world, for example genotype 3a is common in Australian and southern Asia while 2b is the most common genotype in the USA and northern Europe.
• All this means that even if you are hepatitis C positive, you can get a new infection with a different genotype of the virus if you're not 100% Blood Aware.
• The type of genotype you have will effect the treatment options available to you. If you become infected with hepatitis C then before you begin treatment, your doctor will ask you to have some blood tests. One of them will test what type of genotype you have. The length of time you are on treatment and the decision to start will depend on your genotype.