Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => I Just Tested Positive for Hepatitis C => Topic started by: _c2016 on June 15, 2017, 09:13:39 pm
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So My lab Work Came back positive for hepatitis C, My doctor requested extra lab Work: My Results are in my Health Portal But I'm confused,
The Test were for : Hepatitis C RNA, Viral Load, PCR, Serum
The Results are as follow:
HCV RNA IU/mL <15 IU/mL
HCV RNA Qn PCR <1.18 log IU/mL
What do they mean?
I won't see my doctor until 2 weeks from now and I'm curious.
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The <15 means that at that particular laboratory, the Hepatitis C RNA PCR viral load test can't quantify the amount of Hep C in the blood sample if there is less than 15 IU/mL in your blood sample. The <1.18 is the same as <15 expressed as a logarithm. Those numbers tell you the sensitivity of the test: below 15, it can detect Hep C if it is present, but it can't count exactly how much at such a low level.
Are there any other numbers in the portal besides the <15 and the <1.18? If not, are there any words like DETECTED or NOT DETECTED or UNDETECTED? If there is a number 15 or higher, then Hep C has been detected and the number is your viral load. If not, but the word "detected" is there, then you have a small amount of Hep C. If there are no other numbers but some term such as "undetected" or "not detected" is there, then you don't currently have Hep C.
The reason for this second (Hepatitis C RNA PCR viral load) test is that the first test you took only says whether you were exposed to Hep C, such that your immune system made antibodies to the Hep C. People who ever had Hep C, even if their immune systems were able to get rid of it without medicine, typically have positive results to the antibody test for the rest of their lives. That's why the second test is necessary: to see if there is current Hep C infection.
Hope this helps.
Gnatty
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Did the test include the words nondetectable or undetectable?
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In My health portal it only showed
HCV RNA IU/mL <15 IU/mL
HCV RNA Qn PCR <1.18 log IU/mL
There were no Words As "Detected or "No detected
The First Test Was For "Hepatitis C Virus Ab, Serum" and The result came back "Abnormal" (reactive)
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Strange. I'm thinking the version of the second test posted to your portal isn't complete, but maybe Lucinda will have a different idea. How long ago did you take the second test? Usually, regular labs have to send that one out to a specialty lab, so perhaps all that has come back so far is the test sensitivity, and the actual viral load or lack of a viral load is still pending.
That first test was indeed the antibody test I was talking about: reactive (as you know) means positive.
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The First Test was Done On June 8 the Second One was done on June 13. I'm currently pregnant too and that's why i'm really Concerned.
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That's a very understandable concern. I'm not sure how much this will help, but we have had a lot of mothers on these forums who had Hep C while pregnant, yet their babies didn't catch the Hep C. Also, Hep C takes a very long time to do damage, and the liver is a very resilient organ.
June 13 is only the day before yesterday. My lab has to send the second test out to Quest Diagnostics, and it can take up to five business days to get actual results back.
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Thank you for your help, I'm just going have to wait for my Appointment to see the real results :)
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If I were to guess, I would say you are likely negative, because the fact that you have hep C antibody, your HCV RNA would be substantial. The word, "non-detectable" would help us put this to rest, but the absence of the word "detectable" suggests that you are negative. I am guessing you were exposed to hep C and you cleared it on your own.