Am i really clear of this?

bit of confusion on my end....hopefully someone can clear up: routine blood test a couple years back popped up a positive result (baffling to me as no drig use or needle sharing, tatoos, blood transfusion surgey etc)....more tests were done and they showed i "cleared" it on my own...since then (2 years ago) did another test and showed nothing...does this mean i can still transfer something to my partner...as it will always show somesort of initial "positive" result to Hep c..meaning do i still need to be careful with cuts / blood around people or am i truly in the clear? basically is it gone and the only way i could get it is through re-infection (infected blood from someone)?maybe this is a stupid question???

[Trinity4]

Sounds like your initial blood test showed positive for hepc antibodies and further testing (riba) showed you only have the antibodies now because your immune system fought off the virus. If indeed that is the case, you will always have the antibodies but no cause for concern, antibodies cannot transmit hepc.  2 years ago if you had an HCV RNA by PCR which showed no active virus then you are fine and should not be concerned   As mentioned, if you were exposed to the virus and your body resolved it on it's own, you will test positive for antibodies for the rest of your life but there is no need to be extra cautious with cuts/blood other than usual precautions.

Yes, you can get reinfected with hepc.  We do not build up an immunity to the hepc virus.

Trinity

[Bill1954]

No, not a stupid question at all; it’s a confusing issue and your doctor should have explained this to your satisfaction.

If you tested positive for Hep C (HCV) antibodies during routine screening, it suggest two possibilities. One, that you were exposed at one time in the past, and you were indeed infected. The other is that the initial antibody test yielded false positive results, which happen relatively frequently.

If you were indeed exposed at one time, a confirmatory test, usually called a ‘HCV RNA by PCR’ is run; this checks for presence of active RNA virus. This test is highly specific for infection; if negative, then you’re immune response successfully defeated the virus. This occurs roughly 20% of the time.

If this is the case, while you’ll always test positive for antibodies, you are not infectious, and there are no further actions required on your part. If in doubt, ask your doctor for your HCV RNA status.

Bill

[Bill1954]

:)

[JeffreyB]

thanks so much for the quick response and taking the time! phew!

[nygirl7]

it is all very confusing if you don't understand it but as Bill said it seems that you have beaten the disease.  Be happy and enjoy your life you dodged a huge bullet - it's great news!!!!!

[Bill1954]

Jeffrey, our immune system develops antibodies in response to a pathogen; whether it’s flu, HCV or something else. They are a product of our own body; you have antibodies right now that were developed in response to flu, or the measles that you developed as a child, perhaps. This doesn’t mean you have flu, only that these diseases left a fingerprint for future recognition.