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What are blood borne viruses?
Blood borne viruses (BBVs) are infections that are passed from one person to another through blood‑to‑blood contact. This can happen when infected blood enters the bloodstream of another person.
The most common blood borne viruses are HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. These viruses can affect long‑term health, particularly the liver or immune system, but many people live well with them especially when they are diagnosed early and can access treatment.
BBVs are most transmitted through:
- Unprotected sex, particularly when there is contact with blood (for example through tears or sores)
- Sharing injecting equipment, such as needles, syringes, spoons, filters, or water
- Sharing other items that may have blood on them, such as razors or toothbrushes
- Unsterile tattooing or piercing equipment
- From parent to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding (though this risk can often be reduced with treatment)
BBVs cannot be spread through everyday contact such as hugging, kissing, sharing food or drinks, coughing, or using the same toilets.
Why testing matters
Regular testing, access to harm reduction services such as sterile injecting equipment and condoms, and early treatment all play a vital role in reducing transmission and supporting people’s health.
Many people living with Hep C or HIV don’t know they have it. Symptoms can appear years later – or not at all.
Getting tested means:
- Earlier access to treatment and care
- Reduced risk of transmission and reinfection
- Better long-term health outcomes
- Clear information and reassurance
Testing is quick, free and confidential.
Be a Hep C Hero: reduce the risks
Harm reduction is about practical, realistic steps that reduce risk and support safer choices – wherever people are at.
Ways to reduce the risk of BBV transmission include:
- Get tested regularly if you may be at risk
- Avoid sharing pipes, snorting or injecting equipment
- Use low dead space needles and syringes wherever possible
- Clean reused equipment with sterilising tablets or thin bleach
- Use coloured or marked equipment to prevent accidental sharing
- Use your own mouthpiece if smoking from a pipe
- Dispose of used equipment safely in sharps bins
- Practice safer sex using condoms or gloves
Being a Hep C Hero doesn’t mean being perfect – it means taking steps that protect your health and the health of others.
How Turning Point can support you
Across our drug and alcohol services, Turning Point delivers evidence-based harm reduction that reduces BBV transmission, reinfection and supports people into treatment.
Our approach includes:
- Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) providing sterile injecting and smoking equipment
- Access to low dead space needles which have a reduced risk of transmission and less drug waste
- Coloured equipment to reduce sharing risk
- Sterilising tablets available through NSPs
- BBV testing delivered within services or via supported referral
- Partnership working with organisations such as the Hepatitis C Trust
Improving access to NSP kits through:
- Fixed service sites
- Community pharmacies
- Outreach services
- Home delivery options
This consistent approach is how micro elimination is achieved and how it is sustained.
Working towards micro elimination
Turning Point services are actively contributing to national Hepatitis C elimination ambitions through high levels of testing, treatment referral and ongoing engagement.
We have maintained micro elimination in Oxfordshire, Slough, Herefordshire and Bath. In the last year have gone on to achieve micro elimination in City & Hackney, Oldham (as part of ROAR), Hammersmith & Fulham and just this week on Rochdale.
Testing and treatment activity (2025–2026):
- 11,427 dried blood spot tests (DBSTs) completed
- 238 referrals into Hep C treatment
These results show what’s possible when testing, harm reduction and treatment pathways work together.
How to get tested and find out more information
Be a #HepCTestHero and contact us today to find out more about BBV testing, harm reduction support and local services near you:
👉 Find your local Turning Point service
👉Find other drug services, sexual health clinic or GPs near you