Blood-Borne Viruses (BBV) are transmitted from a person with an infection to another via blood to blood contact which includes: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B.

If you have any tattoos or piercings, ever shared needles or other injecting equipment or injected steroids, you may have been exposed to a BBV.

Check out more about hep B and hep C on the Hepatitis NSW website and about HIV on the Play Safe NSW website

HIV is spread from one person with an infection to another person via bodily fluids such as blood, Semen/Cum, Precum, Vaginal/Front hole fluids, Rectal/Anal/Back hole fluids & breast milk (rare in Australia).

HIV can not be transmitted via sharing dishes or cutlery, saliva, tears, sweat, shaking hands, through the air, sharing a toilet seat, closed mouth kissing, hugging, mosquitoes or ticks.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is when a person has illness or certain kinds of cancers due to their weakened immune system and is a late stage of HIV. Globally AIDS still exists in countries where people have poor access to good health services.

In Australia it is unlikely someone living with HIV would develop AIDS because of the access to treatment.

Read more on the Ending HIV website

The only way to know if you have a BBV is to get a blood test. These tests can be done by your health care provider. An alternative is the dried blood spot (DBS) test. The DBS test is a new, free, easy and private way to test for HIV and hepatitis C.

Learn more on the DBS website

There is currently a vaccination to prevent hep B but not for hep C or HIV.

Protect yourself by:

Never sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment. Find your nearest NSW Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) outlets on this map.

Ensuring tattoo, acupuncture, and body piercing equipment is sterile

Preventing contact with other people’s body fluids (e.g. use gloves to dress wounds and to clean up spills of blood and other body fluids)

Always use condoms, gloves or oral dams during sex

Never sharing personal items such as razors, toothbrushes and nail clippers.

Learn more about protecting yourself from hep C on the Hepatitis NSW website

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and is a HIV prevention option where HIV negative people take medication at specific intervals to prevent infection.

Depending on your circumstances, PrEP can be prescribed by a GP or Sexual Health clinic and obtained via a pharmacy in Australia or ordered online.

PrEP has been available in Australia since 2018 and has contributed to the reduction of new HIV infections in NSW.

Find out more about PrEP on the Ending HIV website

PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and is a month-long course of anti retro-viral medication to help prevent HIV infection. PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV.

Visit the Get PEP website to learn more