How do people respond when you say you're a scientist?

Microbiologist in a Public Health lab here! I have been being a bit more social lately and naturally people are asked what theu do for a living pretty early on in the conversation. So when I say I'm a scientist, the next question is "oh is it research?" to which I'll say no and that I work on diagnostic samples in a public health setting. Like 90% of the time I'm met with a somewhat rude response about the type of samples I handle. Usually it's "Oh ew, let me get away from you!" or "Don't touch anything". Every once in a while someone is nice about it but they also seem very surprised. I feel sometimes I'm either judged or people are shocked that I work in a lab. Have any of you guys experienced this? If not, have you got any good one liners I can snap back with? Lol