Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: Cd73 on February 16, 2019, 11:30:11 pm
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I know I lived a high risk lifestyle for wayyyyy too many years. Was certain I have Hep C the test results have me so confused?!?
Says standard level “not detected” yet has a small viral load number and tells me I have to report to the health department...
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If you had a HCV RNA by PCR test or similar named with a result of detected and a viral load that would mean you have an infection with the hepatitis c virus and will likely need treatment.
The “standard result” is what a normal result should be.
Usually people with first have a hepatitis c antibody test and if that is positive will have a second test to confirm they are currently infected.
The next step would be to see you doctor and learn about the treatments available. The good news is there are newer treatments that were approved beginning in 2014 that are very effective at treating hep c. Most have cure rates around 98% for those who were not previously treated and do not have liver cirrhosis.
I’m sure you will have other questions so come back any time for more information and we will try our best to help.
Good luck
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Thank you! It just kinda blows my mind because I left the harmful lifestyle 3 years ago. I had always told my roommates not to use razors n things like that because well I always figured I had it.
AST 87
ALT 176
Hemoglobin 16.1
Hematocrit 46.1
Neutrophils 46.1
Lymphocytes 44.2
C Reactive <1.0
Bilirubin 0.7
Standard Range hepatitis c quant v load “not detected”
Load 104,657 H
The A B and syphilis all were non reactive
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Normal results aren’t all that important like your HGB etc
ALT and AST which are liver enzymes are commonly slightly elevated in hep c infection and will very likely return to normal on you first on treatment test result.
They used to say just using IV drugs even once is all it takes to contract hep c. But no worries that is the past all we have is today and what we do with our tomorrows.
You will need a test to determine your genotype of hep c to know which of the new treatments will be best for your type of hep c. Kind of like there are different types of the flu like bird flu or swine flu there are different types of hep c but the names aren’t as fancy just like 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b and so on the most common in the US is 1a or 1b
You doctor may also want to do some testing to see if you have any liver damage. But hep c take a very long time to cause liver damage in general they say that after about 20 years of infection only about 20% of people will develop liver cirrhosis so very likely you won’t have any problems with that.
See your doctor and get started on the process to get treatment and get cured.
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That is a relief, and I go back to see her Monday with so many questions lol
Again thank you