Agree with copyman. After one year, all you want to know is whether you are positive or negative and a qualitative test is less expensive.
Using the LabCorp test number is important to avoid mistakes.
#550400 HCV Qualitative RNA PCR - Detects and confirms Hepatitis C infection - no assay sensitivity given.
#140609 HCV NGI UltraQual - assay sensitivity 5-8 copies/ml (2-3 IU/ml)
Congratulations on your SVR!!
Diamond_Lil
Any test will do but I would just do the labcorp UltraQual. this is the most sensitive test. This test is just a quualatitive test not a pcr so it is not that expensive. It simply says pos or neg, this is all you need to know at this point. But as a member here by the name of hepatitis researcher once said if you are UND by this test then you are really UND !!! good luck
Gary, if the test is good enough for Michelangelo’s David, I’d go for it :o).
A 615 sensitivity makes sense to me also but is a PCR qualitative to a limit of 50 that much more expensive? I'm curious by how much, if so.
I thought the super-sensitive tests to ten, five or two were the more costly ones, possibly due to using TMA, not PCR.
Can't remember squat about this but I'd personally feel fine with a 615.
I think almost any viral assay would be appropriate at 1 year post treatment. There is nothing wrong with the bDNA >615 test; my hepatologist is part of a research/transplant center and supposedly practices cutting-edge medicine, and uses it frequently. The bDNA assay is very specific for HCV; I'd personally be very satisfied with this application. I’d think that if relapse occurred, the virus would have reestablished itself in a robust manner by now.
I am 1.5 years out now, and they are so confident of the durability of SVR that they will no longer routinely test me for HCV.
Best to you—
Bill