Know The Risks
Don't live with a hidden virus, check the risk factors
Protect Yourself
By not sharing any equipment used even water. Get clean sterilised works
Injecting Drugs
Sharing injecting equipment, such as needles, syringes, spoons and filters is a high risk factor
Safe Injectables
Always visit a professional and ensure you check their license
Injectables
Having botox, lip fillers and other cosmetic procedures done in unsterile and un professional settings
Get Checked
Use a condom particularly with a new partner and ask for a Hep C test when getting an STI check
MSM + PrEP
Rough, anal and prolonged sex with multiple partners can increase the chances of blood to blood contact
Prevent Infection
Don't share snorting tools as small drops of blood can be present
Snorting
Drugs
Sharing pipes, straws, notes etc to snort drugs. Membranes in the nose break down causing bleeding
Protect your own
When in prison it is important to have your own razor, toothbrush etc.
Prison
Having spent anytime in prison or a correction centre has been shown to increase your exposure to the Hep C virus
Safe Procedures
If you have had a medical procedure in a country with poor infection control testing would be reccomended
Blood Transfussion
Anyone who had a blood transfusion pre 1989 in Ireland or in a country with poor or no blood testing
Safe Body Art
Always visit a professional body artist and ensure that ink is not shared but decanted and disposed
Tattoos
+ Piercings
Having had a tattoo or piercing in an unsterilised and unprofessional setting can present some risk
Tattoos
+ Piercings
Practise Safe Sex
Use a condom and specifically ask to be tested for Hepatitis C when you go for for an STI check.
Rough Sex
Fisting, using sex toys or having multiple partners can increase the risk of blood being present.
Infection Control
Always visit a professional and research that infection control matches the standard here in Ireland.
Medical Procedures
Having dental or cosmetic procedures in countries without adequate infection control
Your Risk
If any of the above applies to you, we recommend you get tested.
Were not peaching or saying if you get a tattoo you could Hepatitis C.
The greatest risk comes from sharing tools used to inject or snort drugs.
CDC
Recommends
All People over 18y get tested once in their lifetime
Most STI clinics do not automatically test for Hep C, so please ask to be on the safe side