Hi Hep c newbie

[Nikko]

Hi Everyone,
I’m  new to this I had yearly blood work done
Last week tested reactive for hep c ab
HCV ratio 24.1 H
The second test Hepc AB W/RFX RT PCR B125-6
F HEP C Ab (s/co ratio) >11.00. <0.80

I have no clue what it means.  Was the 2nd test the rna test
I see the HEP c Dr. Aug 1st.
Thank you

[Lynn K]

The second test is called Hepatitis C Virus Antibody With Reflex to Quantitative Real-time PCR

This test also appears to me to be an antibody test but I as a lay person am not familiar with the test.

Here is something I found about the test:

https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/113121

This is interesting also:

Hepatitis C: Testing Algorithm for Screening and Diagnosis

https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/it-mmfiles/Testing_Algorithm_for_the_Screening_and_Diagnosis_of_Hepatitis_C.pdf


The test you need is the HCV RNA by PCR test. Your result if you have hep c will be similar to my old result below this was my viral load before I treated:

HCV RNA RT-PCR, QT   2065760 IU/mL
HCV LOG 10   6.315 log10 IU/mL

If you do not have hep C your result will be similar to this:

HCV RNA RT-PCR, QT   See Below IU/mL   See Notes IU/mL
HCV Not Detected

HCV QNT TEST INFO   See Below     See Notes
The quantitative range of the assay is 15 IU/mL to 100 million IU/mL
using COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HCV test, v 2.0. The limit of detection (LOD)
and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for this assay is 15 IU/mL.
Results less than the quantitative range of the assay will be reported
as "HCV RNA detected, less than 15 IU/mL".

Right now you only know you are positive for hep c antibodies. About 25% of people are able to beat the virus without treatment. So even though you are positive for hep c antibodies it is possible you may not be currently infected.


Who is ordering different types in antibody tests for you?

[Nikko]

Thank You Lynn  for your reply. On the 1st I'm seeing 3 doctors. 20 years ago I had a very rare cancer I was the research. He is now at Bayer pharma. I e-mailed him and was so happy to hear from me.  I asked him for a recommendation. He called friday night and told me I will see him and 2 other Drs a Gastro8and hepatologist.
He also told me to find a new GP. She told me the only way to get the virus was i.v. drug use.
He said bring all blood work, but we will want our own.
He said expect to spend the day, I said all day
He said yes I want to take you to lunch. I’m sure we have much to catch up on.

I will keep you posted

[Lynn K]

Yeah I agree about your doctor. While IV drug use is the most likely way to contract hep c it is not the only way glad to hear you have a friendly doctor on your side.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm#C1

Who is at risk for hepatitis C?
Some people are at increased risk for having hepatitis C, including:

Current or former injection drug users, including those who injected only once many years ago
Those born from 1945 through 1965
Recipients of clotting factor concentrates made before 1987, when less advanced methods for manufacturing those products were used
Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants prior to July 1992, before better testing of blood donors became available
Hemodialysis patients
People with known exposures to the hepatitis C virus, such as
Health care workers after needle sticks involving blood from someone who is infected with the hepatitis C virus
Recipients of blood or organs from a donor who tested positive for the hepatitis C virus
People with HIV infection
Children born to mothers infected with the hepatitis C virus
People who are incarcerated
People who use intranasal drugs
People who received body piercing or tattoos done with non-sterile instruments
What is the risk of a pregnant woman passing hepatitis C to her baby?
About 6 in 100 infants born to mothers with hepatitis C become infected with the hepatitis C virus. However, the risk becomes greater if the mother has both HIV and hepatitis C.