Hepatitis and HIV transmission
During injecting, the hepatitis viruses and HIV are passed from one person to another when infected blood is passed from one person into the bloodstream of another.

These viruses have been around for a long time, so people who haven’t shared for 10 years or more may still be carrying a viral infection.

The amount of blood needed to pass infection is very small. Imagine a tiny drop of blood at the end of a needle. If you took that tiny drop of blood and divided it into 500 parts, just one of those parts would be enough to give you hepatitis and only a few might be enough to give you HIV...

This means that transmission of tiny particles of infected blood can happen when people share not just:

• Needles and
• Syringes

but also:

• Tourniquets
• Water
• Water cup/container
• Spoons
• Filters.

The more often you expose yourself to tiny amounts of infected blood, the greater the risk of infection.

HIV and hepatitis B are also sexually transmitted because the virus is found in semen and vaginal fluid, so using condoms and practicing safer sex can protect you from these diseases as well as preventing pregnancy.

Testing
In the months after exposure to the virus the body produces antibodies to both hepatitis and HIV. It is possible to have tests to see if antibodies are present.

It is also possible to test to see if the virus is present.

Deciding whether or not to have a test can be a difficult decision to make. Talking over the pros and cons with a worker at:

• Your drug service or user group
• Local AIDS or hepatitis C council
• The sexual health service
• A specialist HIV testing service

or with your GP will help you make the right decision.

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