Just Tested Positive - False Positive?

[ETM_4_Ever]

Hi everyone,

Recently I got an STD test because I was worried about having syphilis...the doctor told me that he was 99% sure it was just an infected hair follicle, but said it would be smart to still get the test.  Fast forward to today, I go in to get my results, and have no syphilis, but to my surprise, was told I tested positive for Hep C. 

I'm 23, have had 2 sexual partners...wore condoms every time.  Received oral with no protection.  Drug use is marijuana, and I took shrooms one time as well....that's it.  Never injected anything, never got a tattoo.  Pierced both ears, but at a legitimate business with sterile equipment.  No blood transfusions, no surgeries. 

My Signal to Cut Off Ratio was/is 2.33 and underneath it says that a "signal to cut off ratio >11.0 is predictive of a true positive Anti-HCV screening assay result >95% if the time as determined by the CDC."

The Dr, told me that it is very low Hep C and extremely treatable.  She told me to  go to a GI in order to verify that I do in fact have Hep C. I already have scheduled an appointment for this upcoming week.

Is it likely that my test was a false positive? 

[lporterrn]

Very likely a falsie-positive, or you cleared it on your own. Your doc just needs to run an HCV RNA qualitative test (a viral load), and if that comes back nondetectable, then you are negative.

I don't know enough about testing children of HCV-positive mothers, but if your parents are alive and born between 1945-1965, it may be a good time to suggest they get tested. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/RiskAssessment/index.htm Canada recommends testing those born 1945-1975.
You won't need to mention your own circumstances - just a great reminder that we need to get the word out

[ETM_4_Ever]

Thank you for your reply.  So if I am negative then I am not at risk to damage my liver or anything like that?

Also, once you are negative, is there a chance that it can come back or do you have to be reintroduced to it in order to get it again?

I believe it was a false positive but am still nervous because of the fact that I had a remote trace of it in my blood.

[lporterrn]

Negative means no liver damage (unless you damaged your liver by another means, such as alcohol) and it can't come back unless you reinfect yourself.

[ETM_4_Ever]

Ok, great.  I think this should be my last question -

Assuming the test comes back that it was a false-negative...did I test positive on the initial test as a result of having a damaged liver and therefore having too many liver enzymes?

Obviously I'll be asking the GI these questions but you seem pretty knowledgeable.   

[lporterrn]

The test you had has nothing to do with liver enzymes - it only looks at antibodies. If you had high liver enzymes, that needs to be addressed.

[ETM_4_Ever]

They didn't say anything about my liver enzymes, I guess I just understood the test wrong.

Got my blood taken for the second tests, should find out what is up this Friday or Monday.  Expecting to hear that I don't have anything...I'd really be beyond clueless of how I got exposed to Hep C if they say I do have it.

[ETM_4_Ever]

Just got the call from the GI that I tested negative for the virus, but positive for the antibodies again.  He said that the RIBA is no longer available to tell if I was exposed at one point or if it is false positive but he and a colleague believe that it was a false positive.  He said I'll have to do follow ups for 6 months just to verify and after the 6 months it will be confirmed as a false positive.

So happy right now!

Good luck to everyone fighting this brutal disease.

[jberlin]

Great news!  Nice treat on Halloween.  Congrats, jack