Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => I Just Tested Positive for Hepatitis C => Topic started by: ETM_4_Ever on October 24, 2014, 03:34:51 pm
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Hi everyone,
Recently I got an STD test because I was worried about having syphilis...the doctor told me that he was 99% sure it was just an infected hair follicle, but said it would be smart to still get the test. Fast forward to today, I go in to get my results, and have no syphilis, but to my surprise, was told I tested positive for Hep C.
I'm 23, have had 2 sexual partners...wore condoms every time. Received oral with no protection. Drug use is marijuana, and I took shrooms one time as well....that's it. Never injected anything, never got a tattoo. Pierced both ears, but at a legitimate business with sterile equipment. No blood transfusions, no surgeries.
My Signal to Cut Off Ratio was/is 2.33 and underneath it says that a "signal to cut off ratio >11.0 is predictive of a true positive Anti-HCV screening assay result >95% if the time as determined by the CDC."
The Dr, told me that it is very low Hep C and extremely treatable. She told me to go to a GI in order to verify that I do in fact have Hep C. I already have scheduled an appointment for this upcoming week.
Is it likely that my test was a false positive?
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Very likely a falsie-positive, or you cleared it on your own. Your doc just needs to run an HCV RNA qualitative test (a viral load), and if that comes back nondetectable, then you are negative.
I don't know enough about testing children of HCV-positive mothers, but if your parents are alive and born between 1945-1965, it may be a good time to suggest they get tested. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/RiskAssessment/index.htm (http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/RiskAssessment/index.htm) Canada recommends testing those born 1945-1975.
You won't need to mention your own circumstances - just a great reminder that we need to get the word out
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Thank you for your reply. So if I am negative then I am not at risk to damage my liver or anything like that?
Also, once you are negative, is there a chance that it can come back or do you have to be reintroduced to it in order to get it again?
I believe it was a false positive but am still nervous because of the fact that I had a remote trace of it in my blood.
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Negative means no liver damage (unless you damaged your liver by another means, such as alcohol) and it can't come back unless you reinfect yourself.
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Ok, great. I think this should be my last question -
Assuming the test comes back that it was a false-negative...did I test positive on the initial test as a result of having a damaged liver and therefore having too many liver enzymes?
Obviously I'll be asking the GI these questions but you seem pretty knowledgeable.
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The test you had has nothing to do with liver enzymes - it only looks at antibodies. If you had high liver enzymes, that needs to be addressed.
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They didn't say anything about my liver enzymes, I guess I just understood the test wrong.
Got my blood taken for the second tests, should find out what is up this Friday or Monday. Expecting to hear that I don't have anything...I'd really be beyond clueless of how I got exposed to Hep C if they say I do have it.
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Just got the call from the GI that I tested negative for the virus, but positive for the antibodies again. He said that the RIBA is no longer available to tell if I was exposed at one point or if it is false positive but he and a colleague believe that it was a false positive. He said I'll have to do follow ups for 6 months just to verify and after the 6 months it will be confirmed as a false positive.
So happy right now!
Good luck to everyone fighting this brutal disease.
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Great news! Nice treat on Halloween. Congrats, jack