Just Tested positive

[bcombest]

Hello I just tested positive for Hep C. I'm 19 and I have a boyfriend of over a year now. Past needle usage. Boyfriend was a 100% Virgin im afraid I infected him, I would have came in contact with it early last year. I go tomorrow to my new doctor to figure out my path, One of my coworkers friend informed me about Harvoni I was wondering about the success rate.

[KimInTheForest]

Hello bcombest! We all know that it is very upsetting to first learn you have HCV. However, things are quite different now than before. The cure is essentially here (although getting access to it is not always easy).

Harvoni seems to have a very good success rate in the clinical trials - 90-100%, depending on which trial. Success rate in actual daily life (not trial situation) may be a little lower. Many of us here on these forums, including me, are currently on Harvoni. others here have already been cured by it. There are also other new drugs by other manufacturers that are achieving excellent cure rates. And more are entering the pipeline all the time.

So know that you will be cured.

Likelihood of sexual transmission is extremely low. But to be on safe side - and for peace of mind for both of you - your boyfriend will want to get tested.

In your own case, if you just tested positive, then that means positive for antibodies to HCV. That doesn't actually mean you have the virus itself in your body, although you likely do. 80% of HCV infections go on to become chronic, 20% are cleared by the body on its own, which will leave the antibodies in your body (causing you to test positive for rest of your life) but no actual virus.

So the first thing you need to do is get a Qualitative PCR test done, which will determine if any virus is present in your blood, and if it is present, the test will assess which Genotype of HCV you have. You need that information to determine treatment options.

Your doctor will probably also order an abdominal ultrasound and/or maybe a Fibroscan or Fibrosure to determine what degree (if any) of liver damage has occurred.

Also, your primary doctor will likely be referring you to a specialist for further advice, if you do actually have the virus.

It is never great news to test positive. But we are at a point in history where something can at least be done about it. So try not to worry,

best,
kim

[dragonslayer]

>>So the first thing you need to do is get a Qualitative PCR test done, which will determine if any virus is present in your blood, and if it is present, the test will assess which Genotype of HCV you have. You need that information to determine treatment options. <<


In order to get a Viral Load and a Genotype reading, I believe its the QUANTitative PCR test which is required.

[KimInTheForest]

Qualitative PCR is what gives you Genotype. Quantitative only gives you viral load.

kim

[bcombest]

Ive already had all of that done . where your numbers are supposed to be under 15 and mine was 1690 and the other one which was supposed to be under 1 i think mine was 3 . they said that since its a reportable the health dp is getting notified

[bcombest]

i do have Hep c . i go tomorrow to my specialist

[KimInTheForest]

Paul: I have just spent last 10 minute online searching for some document to support my assertion that it is a Qualitative PCR, not Quantitative, that is required to determine Genotype. And I can find nothing that confirms or denies it. (And I am a very good Internet searcher.) I do know that various doctors I have seen over the years have each told me this. And I do know that recently my liver specialist ordered a Qualitative PCR to re-affirm my genotyping of 20 years earlier since he had no paperwork confirming that. And the lab screwed up, did at Quantitative PCR instead. Dr. put it in again & asked me to explicitly tell the lab nurse collecting my blood that this is a Qualitative PCR for genotype (so they didn't screw it up again)…

best,
kim

[KimInTheForest]

i do have Hep c . i go tomorrow to my specialist

Glad to hear you are able to deal with this so swiftly, bcombest. Best of luck to you, and keep us posted.

kim

[dragonslayer]

Paul: I have just spent last 10 minute online searching for some document to support my assertion that it is a Qualitative PCR, not Quantitative, that is required to determine Genotype. And I can find nothing that confirms or denies it. (And I am a very good Internet searcher.) I do know that various doctors I have seen over the years have each told me this. And I do know that recently my liver specialist ordered a Qualitative PCR to re-affirm my genotyping of 20 years earlier since he had no paperwork confirming that. And the lab screwed up, did at Quantitative PCR instead. Dr. put it in again & asked me to explicitly tell the lab nurse collecting my blood that this is a Qualitative PCR for genotype (so they didn't screw it up again)…

best,
kim

You're right; its very hard to search for the difference between quantitative and qualitative HCV pcr tests and come up with anything definitive regarding genotype testing.

Ive never had a qualitative test, however I believe most here have used the Quantitative test, and it definitely reports both viral load, detected or not detected, and Genotype provided viral load is above a certain minimal value beneath which genotype cant be determined.  This is the Abbott m2000 quantitative RT-PCR test. Ive always understood that the Qualitative test is more sensitive in detecting the virus, but it does not quantify, ie, does not report viral load, so if it reports genotype, it does it without quantifying the viral load.  Perhaps both tests will report genotype.

This may all be academic, however, since there is also a separate test the soul function of which is to determine genotype: The Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II .

[KimInTheForest]

Hi Paul. I suspect both types of PCR tests, Qual. and Quant., can determine Genotype. I did not know that about Quant. before. Also, different labs have different types of machines. Maybe where I am in Canada, because of lab equipment or something, a Qual. PCR is the common (or only) way to collect Genotype information.

best,
kim

[Lynn K]

I had a separate test for genotype was not part of the viral load test. I don't think the viral load test provides genotype as far as I know

[dragonslayer]

I had a separate test for genotype was not part of the viral load test. I don't think the viral load test provides genotype as far as I know

It does, if its the  Abbott m2000 quantitative RT-PCR test which is what my lab uses!

https://www.abbottmolecular.com/us/products/infectious-diseases/realtime-pcr/realtime-hcv.html

[Lynn K]

Thanks Paul

[TexasC+]

Its upsetting to get the news your positive. Good thing your being proactive and getting treatment. They will determine your genotype of Hep C ,depending on the results your doctor will give you the treatment plan that works for that genotype. There are newer medications out that are working wonders to cure folks. Get educated on the disease and your treatment options.
Best advice I have gotten is.. Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, get plenty of rest.
Don't eat or drink anything that can effect your liver ( raw shell fish, alcohol, many over the counter medications ).
You can beat this and we are here for you for support.

Mary