Re: the first hours if newly exposed to Hepatitas c

Get a blood test. HCV will stay active on a counter for 16 hours to 4 days. It's a nasty virus.

http://www.homehealthtesting.com/hepatitis-c-tests.htm

If you live a healthy lifestyle, chances are your liver's own interferon will kill it.
Get tested.

Antibodies which shows HCV exposure-HCV can be found in 7 out of 10 persons when symptoms begin and in about 9 out of 10 persons within 3 months after symptoms begin. However, it is important to note that many persons who have hepatitis C have no symptoms.

How long after exposure to HCV does it take to test positive with PCR?
It is possible to find HCV within 1 to 2 weeks after being infected with the virus.

More info:

http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DISEASES/HEPATITIS/c/faq.htm#5a