4 week blood test for my wife, Generic Aussie Harvoni

[okcchemistr]

7/28/2016




Dear Ms.***** ,

The results of your recently performed test(s) are listed below:
 
Resulted Orders
HEPATITIS C RNA PCR, QUANTITATIVE
Result
   
Value                    Undetected
   
 
   
HEPATITIS C RNA PCR, QUANT
   
 
   
 
   
Comment:
   
 
   
 
   Result in log IU/mL is Undetected.
-------------------ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-------------------
The quantification range of this assay is 15 to 100,000,000
IU/mL (1.18 log to 8.00 log IU/mL). Testing was performed
by the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Test, version 2.0
(Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.).
Test Performed by:
Mayo Clinic Laboratories - Rochester Superior Drive
200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905
Laboratory Director: William G. Morice, II, M.D., Ph.D.

[FutureThinker]

Way to go!!  Feels great, doesn't it?  The future is bright, FT

[AussieRosa]

It always feels good to see that word: Undetected!

[jenaco]

I am so glad to hear that many on generics are coming back undetected, I too am on generic harvoni, except mine came from India. None the less, my test results are as follows. 7-14-2016 hep c RNA PCR LOG 5.53 hep c RNA PCR Quant 340,682 -viral load  4 week labs 8-15-2016 RNA LOG NOT DETECTED ,  RNA PCR Quant NOT DETECTED. When I saw that,  my eyes about popped out. As to side effects maybe a little headaches nothing to complain about. Actually the first day it felt like someone flipped a switch, I had so much energy, my apatite  came back, my attitude got better, my muscles and joints didn't hurt anymore. And for the first time in 5 years I felt like I had my life back. Before I got my 4 wk. labs done, I told my mom I feel like it's gone. I can't explain how or why, but if you stop and take the time and listen to your body, it will tell you things. I eat really healthy nutritious  foods,  drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. I think that all can make a difference in how bad the side effects are. good luck to all, generics are a blessing and we are all proof they work.

[hummingbird57]

That's great news for everyone! 

I am also taking generic Harvoni from Australia -  start date 7/3.   My specialist suggested bloodwork EOT and 12wk post EOT. 

Jenaco - you put my thoughts into words. 

Best to all -   

[jenaco]

Hummingbird, why does your doctor want you to wait till end of treatment to get labs ? Unless you have to pay for blood work, I would ask to get it done before EOT. Don't you want to know? Duh, I know you do. The only thing my insurance is good for ,is that. My labs are $10.00. But they denied me treatment, because I wasn't sick enough. So I paid for the generic. Keep us posted when your labs are done. Take care, Jenaco

[hummingbird57]

Hi Jenaco - I had started a post earlier to you and it disappeared....!

RE bloodwork:  Initially, I was in the same camp and wanted to have bloodwork at 4,8,12 and then 12 weeks post EOT.  Some insurance providers require a schedule of labs to enforce adherence and abstinence (drugs/alcohol) depending on the patient. 

If I wasn't so lazy this morning, I would include a quote from some of the longtime members/moderators on this subject.  My takeaway from this forum is that, with the blessing of your doc,  the only bloodwork that matters when you're on Harvoni without Riba is the EOT and post EOT to confirm SVR.   Interval testing can be stressful and expensive.  I don't want to say unnecessary but factor in cost and the waiting and I'm all for reducing $$ and stress.

I'm in the same boat you're in with the denial of treatment and the purchase of generics.   

Can you guys help us out on this subject.  Much appreciated.  Week 8 starts this morning!!! 
Best to all - B

[dragonslayer]

Hi Jenaco - I had started a post earlier to you and it disappeared....!

RE bloodwork:  Initially, I was in the same camp and wanted to have bloodwork at 4,8,12 and then 12 weeks post EOT.  Some insurance providers require a schedule of labs to enforce adherence and abstinence (drugs/alcohol) depending on the patient. 

If I wasn't so lazy this morning, I would include a quote from some of the longtime members/moderators on this subject.  My takeaway from this forum is that, with the blessing of your doc,  the only bloodwork that matters when you're on Harvoni without Riba is the EOT and post EOT to confirm SVR.   Interval testing can be stressful and expensive.  I don't want to say unnecessary but factor in cost and the waiting and I'm all for reducing $$ and stress.

I'm in the same boat you're in with the denial of treatment and the purchase of generics.   

Can you guys help us out on this subject.  Much appreciated.  Week 8 starts this morning!!! 
Best to all - B

Hi Hum,  I agree with you.. When my doctor first told me that Id only be tested at 12 wks post treatment, I swallowed hard, and then started researching.  What I found was that the only test that matters with Harvoni is the 12 wks post treatment SVR marker.  On-treatment testing, particularly for who are treatment naive and without cirrhosis, went the way of the dinosaur, ie Interferon regimens.   The results you receive while on treatment dont correlate all that well with final SVR status. Some, like me, tested low level detected both at EOT and at 8 wks post, and didnt become undetected until the 12 wks post test..  A lot of needless anxiety is created by these earlier tests.. The  4 wks post treatment test Does corrlelate well with SVR, but anything before that is kind of meaningless.

[brie41]

Hi,

  I totally agree with Dragonslayer.  It is costly and it does cause stress.  I suppose getting my 4 week eot and knowing I was undetected gave me some comfort, but not completely.  Knew I still had to get over that 12 week hurdle.  My Doctor considers me cured at 12 weeks but why do they test at 6 months then?  I thought you had to make it 6 months before they would say you are cured?  Did it change?  Or am I confused as ever!!! Brie

[dragonslayer]

Hi,

  I totally agree with Dragonslayer.  It is costly and it does cause stress.  I suppose getting my 4 week eot and knowing I was undetected gave me some comfort, but not completely.  Knew I still had to get over that 12 week hurdle.  My Doctor considers me cured at 12 weeks but why do they test at 6 months then?  I thought you had to make it 6 months before they would say you are cured?  Did it change?  Or am I confused as ever!!! Brie

The only reason I can figure  is that there are a tiny percentage of 'late relapsers' which they'd hope to catch with either the 24 wk post treatment test, or the 48 wk post treatment test, both of which were ordered for me.  I also am guessing that for doctors who used to treat with interferon, those late SVR markers, for them, are hard to dispense with; old habits die hard.