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Author Topic: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?  (Read 22989 times)

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Offline Roger

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  • Posts: 171
If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« on: June 01, 2015, 12:56:41 am »
Can someone please remind me why we can not donate blood,
even after Harvoni had done its job on the virus?
Genotype 1a
2006 - Dx
2009 Biopsy      - Stage 2
2013 FibroScan - Stage 2
2014 FibroSure - Stage 3

Started Harvoni 11.21.2014 Viral Load - 313,593
12.26.2014 - UND (at 5 weeks)
At 8 Weeks - UND
EOT 02/12/15 - UND
12 Week EOT Blood Work - UND

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,543
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2015, 02:44:52 am »
The blood banks only test for antibodies once that is positive they dump the donation.

They are not going to do a viral load on every hep c antibody positive donation.

Also to err on the side of caution remember the Hippocratic oath "First do no harm"

Cost prohibitive to test viral load and not worth the small risk
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Roger

  • Member
  • Posts: 171
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2015, 02:53:49 am »
...so the antibody is always present, even if the virus has burned itself out?
Genotype 1a
2006 - Dx
2009 Biopsy      - Stage 2
2013 FibroScan - Stage 2
2014 FibroSure - Stage 3

Started Harvoni 11.21.2014 Viral Load - 313,593
12.26.2014 - UND (at 5 weeks)
At 8 Weeks - UND
EOT 02/12/15 - UND
12 Week EOT Blood Work - UND

Offline Lynn K

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  • Posts: 4,543
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Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2015, 03:03:17 am »
Yes we will always test positive for the antibodies for hep c just like if you either had or were vaccinated for the measles.

In measles the antibodies offer us protection to infection. However the hepatitis c antibodies afford us no such protection.

Unfortunately our immune systems cannot beat the hep c virus which is why most go on to be chronic carriers
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Roger

  • Member
  • Posts: 171
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2015, 12:40:34 pm »
So is our blood still able to contaminate others?
Genotype 1a
2006 - Dx
2009 Biopsy      - Stage 2
2013 FibroScan - Stage 2
2014 FibroSure - Stage 3

Started Harvoni 11.21.2014 Viral Load - 313,593
12.26.2014 - UND (at 5 weeks)
At 8 Weeks - UND
EOT 02/12/15 - UND
12 Week EOT Blood Work - UND

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,543
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2015, 01:21:12 pm »
No

Antibodies are made by our bodies in response to an infection they are not the virus they are antibodies to the virus. Only the virus is what causes an infection. If the virus is eridicated you don't have any virus to transmit
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Roger

  • Member
  • Posts: 171
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2015, 01:30:29 pm »
Ok... I'm starting to get it!

And Harvoni does not actually 'kill' the virus, it more less sterilizes it so it can not replicate - correct?  If this is correct, does that mean that the virus is still floating around, only it is not vital? (not dead)
Genotype 1a
2006 - Dx
2009 Biopsy      - Stage 2
2013 FibroScan - Stage 2
2014 FibroSure - Stage 3

Started Harvoni 11.21.2014 Viral Load - 313,593
12.26.2014 - UND (at 5 weeks)
At 8 Weeks - UND
EOT 02/12/15 - UND
12 Week EOT Blood Work - UND

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,543
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2015, 01:44:48 pm »
I don't know specifically how long a virus cell lives but not that long. So once Harvoni prevents replication the population dies off
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Roger

  • Member
  • Posts: 171
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2015, 02:43:45 pm »
Thanks Lynn! 
Genotype 1a
2006 - Dx
2009 Biopsy      - Stage 2
2013 FibroScan - Stage 2
2014 FibroSure - Stage 3

Started Harvoni 11.21.2014 Viral Load - 313,593
12.26.2014 - UND (at 5 weeks)
At 8 Weeks - UND
EOT 02/12/15 - UND
12 Week EOT Blood Work - UND

Offline dragonslayer

  • Member
  • Posts: 873
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2015, 06:53:59 pm »
>>And Harvoni does not actually 'kill' the virus, it more less sterilizes it so it can not replicate - correct?  If this is correct, does that mean that the virus is still floating around, only it is not vital? (not dead)<<

I keep reading a different 'version' on other forums.. Specifically, the virus doesnt die; its still there, but in small enough numbers so that its our immune system which keeps it in check.  This 'version' never made sense to me; I kept asking myself how is it that now, the immune system keeps it in check, but somehow, earlier, the same immune system allowed it to grow into the millions of iU/ml?  I prefer the 'debilitated and impotent virions' version better!
« Last Edit: June 01, 2015, 08:05:54 pm by dragonslayer »
Paul

DX 2008
Started Harvoni 11/26/14 for 8 wks
Completed 8 wks Harvoni 01/20/15
EOT RNA Quant result:  Detected 29
7.5 wk post tx: Detected < LLOQ(12)
11 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR12
24 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR24; AST 26; ALT 22; ALP 73
48 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR48; AST 18; ALT 18; ALP 70
GT 1a
vl 2.4mil
2008 bpx: Stage&Grade 0
2013 bpx: Stage&Grade: 0-1
IL28B: TT
likely infected early '70s

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,543
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: If Harvoni Worked, Then Why Can't We Donate Blood?
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2015, 08:22:23 pm »
http://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/hepatitis/harvoni-ledipasvir-sofosbuvir

 How does Harvoni work?

Hep C is a disease of the liver that is caused by a virus. A virus is a very tiny germ that makes copies of itself to survive by a process called replication. The Hep C virus has at least six different strains, which are also known as genotypes.

Harvoni is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medication. DAAs are a group of medications that directly block the ability of the hepatitis C virus to make copies of itself.

Harvoni is a combination of two DAAs. One is sofosbuvir, which is a nucleotide polymerase inhibitor, and the other is ledipasvir, which is an NS5A inhibitor. Sofosbuvir interferes with the reproduction of the virus’s genetic material, stopping the production of new Hep C virus. Ledipasvir works by interfering with a protein needed to complete the Hep C virus life cycle in the liver cell.

Hep C treatment can cure a person from Hep C. However, a person could get infected again.

I personally like to think we have spayed and neutered all the tiny little dragons so they can't reproduce and then the population died off.
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

 


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