What doctor can perform the RNA/PCR test?

[Newbie15]

During my annual visit to my gynecologist, routine std testing found I was positive on the antibody test.  He referred me (informally/told me about) to a liver specialist or hepatologist. This was after I questioned him whether the RNA test had also been performed. I had read enough about it the day before to know to ask that. Irked me that he didn't volunteer that part himself so I don't get extra depressed.  My insurance sucks (ObamaCare) as I have to meet the deductible first, so my question is...is it the general practitioner/primary care doctor that performs this test? That may be cheaper. Every office I call, I have to spend minutes trying to explain to them what I need. Meaning that they don't get confused and say they do the test when it's only the antibody test. My insurance also said the primary care doc had to refer me to the specialist so I guess i have no choice but to go to a Primary Care doc. Because I was also thinking I'd save by going directly to the specialist and having him do the test plus the additional tests, treatments, etc, if my gyno officially refers me. Ugh! Btw, the gyno didn't order the RNA/PCR test. Said something like, since he doesn't deal with Hep C, it wasn't up to him.

[davidsconfused]

My regular doctor did the antibody test and when it came back positive he did the RNA test (well, his office drew the blood and sent it to a lab on both). THEN I was refered to a gastroenterologist.  I wouldn't want to pay a specialist before I knew I actually had HCV if I were you.

[Philadelphia]

I'm in Australia, so different system perhaps, but I can get a HCV RNA from my GP (regular dr) if +ve to antibody test. Wouldn't expect my gyn to do it. That'd be like expecting my hepatologist to do a Pap smear.

[lporterrn]

Any licensed MD or DO, nurse practitioner or physician's asst can order an HCV RNA qualitative test

[Newbie15]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond! I just made an appointment with a family physician that will send me to a lab to do the test...for tomorrow! WooHoo!! Just want to know the results already. I'm staying confident that I'll be among the few who's body has cleared it.  I was last routinely tested in January 2014 and it came back negative, so I had to have come in contact with it in the last year and a half.

So one of my follow up questions is, if in fact there's an active infection, is there a better and easier chance of treatment the sooner it's treated from the time it's contracted? Because I suppose there would be less of the virus in my bloodstream? I have drank alcohol quite a bit this year, so who knows how that will affect it.
Also, about how long does it take for the results to come back? The receptionist said part of it would come back Thurs morning (appt is Wed afternoon) and the rest Saturday or Monday. But not sure if she's basing it on lab results in general.

Haha Philadelphia...I figured his office could send off another (or same?) blood sample to get tested for the additional test to the lab that originally tested for the other diseases.

[Lynn K]

No mater how long you have been infected with hep c odds are very good you will be cured by the new generation of medicines. I don't recall seeing any studies looking at recent infection vs long standing infection related to cure rates.

Key factors affecting cure rates are genotype, amount of liver damage. and prior treatment history.

Alcohol does not affect the hep c virus but both alcohol and hep c affect the liver by causing liver damage.

My viral load tests usually come back in 4 days to 1 week.

Good luck hope you are not detected for the virus.

Lynn

[tblount]

Message deleted - rules violation -- providing important phone numbers and links for Hep C support groups.

[jberlin]

Tblount,

That is a troubling and incorrect post.  I am not sure what your real issue is, but we should not be discussing it here where people are trying to help each other get well. If you would like, I would be happy discuss by direct messaging, or even by phone if you wish, but not here in this forum. We do't 'hack' anyone and our rules are pretty simple and very common sense. 

This was what we edited that I am guessing made you upset:
A few days ago I found that I could buy hep c at-home test
for about $8 each <Hep Moderators: In keeping with our policy of not promoting commercial sites, we've removed a promotional link> and I bought a package of 5.

Yes, if you wish to promote commercial sites, we are not the place to do this as it calls into question a respondent's motivation.  Direct message me if you wish and we can discuss further.

jack