DNA level

[cally44]

Hi

I had a question about HBV DNA LEVELS.  If someone has 1550 copies/ml in general what does that come out to?  Do they multiply that with another number?  So in reality if one has 1550 copies/ml what does that mean?  Also if they have 842 iu/ml what does that mean?

I am confused about how they go about calculating it and determining if one is a candidate for treatment or not.

Thanks

[ladybug52]

I have looked all over the internet trying to interpret what your dna level means and it is really frustrating.  I found a question posted in this forum in 2002 without any responses.
It is very confusing but has a lot more info than you gave.
My little brain can't really take on exponential and logarithmic format but maybe you can or a math genius who reads this will.  Good Luck!
Hi,
The test was done about 4 mths back.I have enclosed the medical report please tell me whther this can be cured and whether im acute or chronic hepatitis B.

>>RESULTS: DNA - agarose gel electrophoresis of the
>sample shows the presence of a 259 hp(bp)amplicon
>along with the internal standard. Densitometric
>calculation establish that HBV viral load is 26500
>fq/ml.
>
>SEROLOGY: Serology shows that serum is reactive to HBV
>antigens
>
>INTERPRETATION: Quantitative PCR for HBV shows viremia
>with 26500 HBV viral DNA copies /ml in the sample.
>Viral load is expressed in following various formats.
>the result of the present investigations are provided
>in all international accepted formats for mediacal
>perusal.
>
>>SEROLOGY: Serology shows that serum is reactive to HBV
>antigens
>
>INTERPRETATION: Quantitative PCR for HBV shows viremia
>with 26500 HBV viral DNA copies /ml in the sample.
>Viral load is expressed in following various formats.
>the result of the present investigations are provided
>in all international accepted formats for mediacal
>perusal.
>
>PLAIN FORMAT: 26500/ml
>EXPONENTIAL FORMAT: 2.65 * 10000/ml
>LOGARITHMIC FORMAT: log(26500)=4.42 log units per ml.
>
>Presence of 259 hp amplicon show presence of HBV
>virus.
>
>INVESTIGATION: ANTI HBS
>------------------------
>
>FINDINGS: 5 U/L
>
>REFERENCE RANGE: LESS
>REFERENCE RANGE: LESS THAN 20 U/L : NEGATIVE
> EQUAL OR MORE 20 U/L : POSITIVE
>
>Hbe Antigen
>------------
>
>Hbe Antigen : NEGATIVE

[cally44]

I didn't understand the values...does anyone else know this?>

[MissMiss]

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hepatitis_c/glance.html

This site may be of use to you both.  I can't read your results but didn't want you to be left without some kind of answer.  Sorry couldn't help more.

miss

[timedog]

Have you asked your doctor to explain your results?

[way]

< means "less than" AND > means "greater than"

To put it in simplest terms they can't check all your blood so they check how many copies of the virus are in a mL which means milliliter (one thousanth of a liter)

That is just how the viral load is expressed, the only other way to tell how much you really have would be to take all your blood out and then measure it.

PCR testing (viral load)is done before Tx so they can re-test during tx (the amount) to see it tx is working.

I just had my 4wk PCR and it came back <10 IU/mL -the test sensitivity goes from 10- 100,000,000, so less than 10 means the virus is undetectable.

What lab do you use?

Just look at the results, not at how they arrived there or you'll give yourself a headache.

If your VL is in the 1000's or under --it's very low. YES it can be treated and cured.

Was this your first PCR have you had a biopsy yet??

I gotta to bed I'll check back tomorrow...

[cally44]

Thanks Way for your comments.

No I didn't have a biopsy done b/c I just found out about a few months ago that I have this in me.  It was done through a routine blood test.  I am e antigen negative.

In regards to your ? about PCR testing, yes it was PCR testing and quest diagnostics performed the lab test.  Your Iu/ml is really low compared to mine...mine was about 840 iu/ml and my copies were 1550 copies/ml.  Is this dangerous?  I am going to do a ultrasound to make sure everything is okay with the liver but I just wanted to know how they calculate the copies.  If they multiply the figure to another number or is it just what it says, 1550?  I am a little confused about this.

Do you think based on the figures that I have had this disease for many years or do you think it is recent and I have a good chance of clearing it up?

Thanks for your input!!

Cally

[way]

Mine is not low it is "undetectable" --less than 10 IU/mL is as sensitive as the test goes and I have less than can be detected.

Yours is LOW trust me. Viral loads go any where from the thousands to up in the millions. I started with 129,000 IU/mL and that is considered low, so yours is really low. I have been treating for 7 weeks, thats why mine is undetectable.

No they don't multiply it. You have two figures for IU/mL (my lab is LabCorp and I'm not used to reading Quest) but they are both LOW.

Did your doctor schedule a biopsy or refer you to another doctor?
Yes you can clear it up no problem but without a biopsy you can't tell the amount of liver damage. Are you being treated by your primary or GI or hepatoligist? Does your lab report say acute or chronic on it --I think you need a biopsy to tell that. Acute sometimes clears on its own.

[cally44]

Hi Way,

Thanks for the clarification.  No, I have yet to see a GI specialist.  I am antigen positive with Anti-Hbc positive and IGM negative which means I am probably acute.  The lab report stated that I might have early acute infection but chronic Hep B cannot be dismissed which means I am probably chronic and not acute or else the IGM would have stated positive.

I am e antigen negative and you know the results of my DNA.  I am scheduled for an ultrasound and Alpha-fetaprotein blood work in October.  I rather opt for an ultrasound than a biopsy. Hopefully they can tell me if my liver is damaged or not.

Can one's dna level be a determining factor of how long one has had the disease.  I haven't undergone any treatment b/c I don't think I have to from what I know since my dna is low and I am e -antigen negative.  They just recommend that I see a doctor every 6 months to run tests to make sure no damage is done to the liver.

But based on my dna levels would you think I have had this for over 20 years (since birth) or something that I might have gotten in the course of 5 years or so?

I just found out a few months ago.  

Thanks for your advice.

[burialincline]

I am not sure what you are asking, but to convert from copies/ml to IU/ml, divide the copies/ml result by 5.82 (The conversion factor is 5.82 copies = 1 IU)  They are the same viral load result represented in two different ways.

[burialincline]

By the way, my doctors have all told me that 10,000 copies/ml or less is not usually treated, it has to be over that.

[britgirl477]

Cally,
I have just recently cleared an acute infection of HBV and the IgM antibody is the one that you want to be positive for, if you are acute.

When I was first diagnosed my doctor told me that he knew for sure I had been recently infected and withint he last 3 months or so because I was positive for IgM. If you are IgM negative and IgG positive then this indicates you may be chronic. I would check this with your doctor as it can be confusing to distinguish the two of them as they sound so similar. The IgM antibody stays with you right up until you clear out the HBsAg. I know because it was the one thing that I kept praying to have show up on my blood tests each time I got tested.

But your HBV DNA does sound quite low. I cannot quite remember how the numbers are worked out for IU/ml and copies etc but I am sure that the IU/ML number you have to multiply by 4 or 5 to get the copies number. Its just a lab thing, some labs report back in IU/ml and others in copies. But again it can be confusing. If you are chronic and are also HBe antigen negative then this is good as it indicates that your immune system is fighting back just maybe not enough to clear the virus completely. But check with doc or your lab results as to whether you are indeed IgM negative or not.
Brit

[bram44]

This thread was kind of dormant for 2 years.

IU/ml and copies/ml are measured separately. My readings were 30,024 IU/ml and 90,074 copies/ml - about IU to copies is 3 times.

cally44 - if you are monitoring this thread can you post if you cleared the virus ?