Hepatitis Forums

Hepatitis C Main Forums => Living with Hepatitis C => Topic started by: hopefulAries on October 06, 2014, 04:54:36 pm

Title: Viral Load
Post by: hopefulAries on October 06, 2014, 04:54:36 pm
My viral load before treatment was 331,000.
I don't understand what the viral load is. Does this determine how long I have had hep c? because I have no idea how long I have had it. Does it determine how badly my liver is affected?
After 2-3 weeks of treatment, my viral load is not detectable.
I went today to get another viral load done. I finished my S/O 4 days ago. I will keep you posted on the results. Have a good day everyone!
Title: Re: Viral Load
Post by: Mike on October 06, 2014, 05:29:07 pm
Hi hopefulAries,

First, congrats on being undetected - this is a big milestone!!!

To answer your question, a viral load is a measure of the number of virus present in your blood. Viral loads can wax and wane (increase/decrease) over time, and aren't used to measure how long a person has been infected with Hep-C.

In addition, a viral load does not correlate with liver damage - you can have a very low viral load and significant liver damage;  or an extremely high viral load with no liver damage whatsoever.

Viral loads are simply a measure to confirm an active infection.

Best wishes, Mike
Title: Re: Viral Load
Post by: hopefulAries on October 06, 2014, 08:11:53 pm
Thanks for the info.