Hepatitis Forums

Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: Leosulla on August 13, 2017, 01:12:03 pm

Title: HCV test accuracy?
Post by: Leosulla on August 13, 2017, 01:12:03 pm

Dear all

About 2 years ago I had a one time sexual intercourse (vaginal sex). 2 years later (now, 2017) I did tests for a number of stds which i thankfully tested negative for ( I have NOT had any forms of sexual inter course since then). For HCV i did a Ab (antibody test) and I tested negative thankfully. My worry and question now is can i be certain this test is accurate and i am negative? i mean after 2 years could the antibodies have gone away or be hidden or something?

Title: Re: HCV test accuracy?
Post by: dragonslayer on August 13, 2017, 03:20:50 pm

No.. The antibodies dont disappear.. Once someone has been exposed, they will likely test antibody positive for life.. Secondly, HCV is not an STD.   Folks have been married for decades with partner positive for HCV and never caught it.

Relax; the odds are infinitesimally small with a negative antibody test and your feared mode of transmission that you have HCV.

Title: Re: HCV test accuracy?
Post by: Leosulla on August 13, 2017, 04:18:42 pm

Thanks for the reply!

It was unprotected vaginal sex, is the chance still slim from that?

* So i can be pretty sure that my Antibody test was accurate right?

Title: Re: HCV test accuracy?
Post by: Lynn K on August 13, 2017, 11:38:57 pm

The antibody test is used to secure the nations blood supply to protect everyone from accidental infection with hep c so yes the test is very accurate it has to be.

There are some occasional false positives, false negatives only occur if not enough time has elapsed from date on infection for antibodies to form which for people with compromised immune systems like in the presence of HIV can take as long as six months.

Hepatitis C is not generally considered to be an STD. While there is a small risk of sexual transmission. In the case of long-term monogamous couples the CDC does not recommend the use of barrier protection i.e. condoms.  For those who have multiple sex partners, in the presence of HIV, or for those who engage in rough sexual practices that involve the letting of blood there is a greater risk of transmission.

But generally the odds of transmission of hep c being transmitted through vaginal sexual intercourse is low.

As you had the hep c antibody test 2 years ago congratulations you don't have hep c.