Hepatitis Forums

Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: MMRecord112 on October 17, 2018, 03:23:53 pm

Title: Confused About Test Results
Post by: MMRecord112 on October 17, 2018, 03:23:53 pm
Thank you for being such a great resource - I'm a bit concerned/confused about my testing results and was hoping to get some clarification...

I was recently tested for Hepatitis A, B, and C. Because of the resource I went through to purchase the tests (online STD-service), I was simply given the lab results with no explanation or description. I've tried to research online but haven't been able to find a response that is specific to my situation. Hepatitis A and B both came back as "non-reactive"; on the Hepatitis C results, I got a "non-reactive" under the "Hepatitis C antibody" with the signal to cut-off 0.02 (the reference range is <1.00). I've tried uploading a picture of the results but haven't had too much luck.

For clarification, the test is listed as HEPATITIS C AB W/REFL TO HCV RNA, QN, PCR

How can it be non-reactive if they recorded 0.02? Am I misreading the results? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Confused About Test Results
Post by: Lynn K on October 17, 2018, 07:40:51 pm
Anything less than 1.00 means you don’t have hep c. Any number less than one is just noise.

You don’t have hep c antibodies so you don’t have hep c. I assume you waited at least 12 weeks after a concerning potential blood to blood contact before getting tested. Blood to blood meaning sharing of IV needles with someone who has hep c or getting a tattoo from an unlicensed tattoo parlor or some similar exposure  where there was a risk of infected blood entering your bloodstream through an open wet fresh injury.

Just to add

Edit correction: hep B is also blood borne like hep C while hep A is food borne virus involving fecal oral ingestion.
(Thanks Paul)

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm
Title: Re: Confused About Test Results
Post by: dragonslayer on October 17, 2018, 08:46:36 pm
Anything less than 1.00 means you don’t have hep c. Any number less than one is just noise.

You don’t have hep c antibodies so you don’t have hep c. I assume you waited at least 12 weeks after a concerning potential blood to blood contact before getting tested. Blood to blood meaning sharing of IV needles with someone who has hep c or getting a tattoo from an unlicensed tattoo parlor or some similar exposure  where there was a risk of infected blood entering your bloodstream through an open wet fresh injury.

Just to add hep A is also blood borne like hep C while hep B is food borne virus involving fecal oral ingestion.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm

Uhm, Eeew?  Hep B from eating poop?   I think I have to beg to differ; You reversed A and B   :o ; from your link:

"Hepatitis B Transmission / Exposure

How is hepatitis B spread?
The hepatitis B virus is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus from:

Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth)
Sex with an infected partner
Sharing needles, syringes, or drug preparation equipment
Sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors or medical equipment such as a glucose monitor with an infected person
Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments of an infected person
Hepatitis B virus is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, hand holding, coughing, or sneezing."
Title: Re: Confused About Test Results
Post by: Lynn K on October 17, 2018, 10:00:04 pm
Oops my bad thanks lol  :-[

Yup hepatitis A is food borne like from a food service worker who has hep A and may not have performed adequate hand washing or contaminated water sources oral fecal transmission. Also possible sexual transmission.

Hep B blood borne yup
Title: Re: Confused About Test Results
Post by: MMRecord112 on October 18, 2018, 09:41:16 am
Anything less than 1.00 means you don’t have hep c. Any number less than one is just noise.

You don’t have hep c antibodies so you don’t have hep c. I assume you waited at least 12 weeks after a concerning potential blood to blood contact before getting tested. Blood to blood meaning sharing of IV needles with someone who has hep c or getting a tattoo from an unlicensed tattoo parlor or some similar exposure  where there was a risk of infected blood entering your bloodstream through an open wet fresh injury.

Thank you for your help - it is very much appreciated.