Aa
Anti-hcv poitive pcr negative
Hello,
I was born with thalessemia major and was treated for it in 1992 in Northern Italy. Before i had the Bone marrow transplant I had blood tansfusions to keep me alive. However due to blood transfusions, prior to the transplant , i had contracted hep c which was confirmed by pcr in 1993. In 1994 they ran a rt-pcr was found negative. The following years in the US my mother had me visit doctors to check up on me and it was told that i no longer needed to go back for visits. I'm currently 27 years old and have recently went to my primary doctor and had blood work for Stds and she recommended that I check for Hep c. The anti-body resulted postive. Therefore I had a confirmatory test by pcr and it tested negative. She told me that my blood levels were normal although the virus can be intermittent and that I should go see a hepatologist to have further testing. Following i went to see a specialist in infectious diseases, he said that the negative pcr is very promising and that i may have cleared the virus. He ran more bloodwork , such as quantitive pcr and genotype and was going to try to include a type of test that would substitute a liver biopsy, i think fibroscan. He wasnt sure if the insurance would cover it. Im worried is that the virus is still active and intermittenlty in my blood.
I was born with thalessemia major and was treated for it in 1992 in Northern Italy. Before i had the Bone marrow transplant I had blood tansfusions to keep me alive. However due to blood transfusions, prior to the transplant , i had contracted hep c which was confirmed by pcr in 1993. In 1994 they ran a rt-pcr was found negative. The following years in the US my mother had me visit doctors to check up on me and it was told that i no longer needed to go back for visits. I'm currently 27 years old and have recently went to my primary doctor and had blood work for Stds and she recommended that I check for Hep c. The anti-body resulted postive. Therefore I had a confirmatory test by pcr and it tested negative. She told me that my blood levels were normal although the virus can be intermittent and that I should go see a hepatologist to have further testing. Following i went to see a specialist in infectious diseases, he said that the negative pcr is very promising and that i may have cleared the virus. He ran more bloodwork , such as quantitive pcr and genotype and was going to try to include a type of test that would substitute a liver biopsy, i think fibroscan. He wasnt sure if the insurance would cover it. Im worried is that the virus is still active and intermittenlty in my blood.
No I'm not a doc, just a former hep c patient, who took the time to learn all I could about this disease, so I could do my best to win the fight against HCV
"I WANT TO KNW THT I HAVE TO MAKE A TEST AFTER EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR RECONFIRMING THIS"
"my hcv antibodies is reactive and my PCR is negative i have done my test in pregnancy my first test is done in jan 2010 it shows antibodies reactive and PCR negative than my second test occured in 2012 it again shows the same result"
It appears that you may have been exposed in the past but cleared the virus through your own immune system, you have already had 2 negative HCV RNA PCR results, so no. you do not need more testing, you do not have hep c.
Have a great day
"my hcv antibodies is reactive and my PCR is negative i have done my test in pregnancy my first test is done in jan 2010 it shows antibodies reactive and PCR negative than my second test occured in 2012 it again shows the same result"
It appears that you may have been exposed in the past but cleared the virus through your own immune system, you have already had 2 negative HCV RNA PCR results, so no. you do not need more testing, you do not have hep c.
Have a great day
THANK U SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING ME BUT I WANT TO KNW THT I HAVE TO MAKE A TEST AFTER EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR RECONFIRMING THIS
"so is tht im also free from this virus....."
Yes
Is it possible for someone to become infected with HCV and then spontaneously clear the infection?
Yes. Approximately 15%–25% of persons clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop chronic infection; the reasons for this are not well known.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5
Yes
Is it possible for someone to become infected with HCV and then spontaneously clear the infection?
Yes. Approximately 15%–25% of persons clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop chronic infection; the reasons for this are not well known.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5
hi i have the same story my hcv antibodies is reactive and my PCR is negative i have done my test in pregnancy my first test is done in jan 2010 it shows antibodies reactive and PCR negative than my second test occured in 2012 it again shows the same result so is tht im also free from this virus.....
Thank you pooh55811. I was rather confused when he said that I might be just a "carrier" but according to my results I had resolved the virus. He was very confident that i was fine. Nonetheless I'm having a fibroscan blood test done in January, it will be the last determing factor to check my liver. However he felt that I dont need the fibroscan test and according to my results. In addition I had asked him if I should test in the future for HCV and he said that perhaps I should do it in a year.
It appears that you have cleared the virus on your own.
You are "Not Detected" which means, in your case, you do not have Chronic Hepatitis C.
You are not a carrier.
With Hepatitis C you either have the disease or you do not have the disease. There is no carrier status.
However, because you did have Hepatitis C prior to clearing it on your own, you will always carry the antibodies. The antibodies mean only that you had Hep C at some point in your life.
You are "Not Detected" which means, in your case, you do not have Chronic Hepatitis C.
You are not a carrier.
With Hepatitis C you either have the disease or you do not have the disease. There is no carrier status.
However, because you did have Hepatitis C prior to clearing it on your own, you will always carry the antibodies. The antibodies mean only that you had Hep C at some point in your life.
Hello,
I want to thank everyone for their responses and hope that all you had a great holiday,Yesterday,I finally recieved my results from the specialist he was very delighted to tell me that quantitive pcr rna resulted <43 IU/ML not detected . He also ran a genotype test, in which he claims that they couldn't find the any trace of the virus and that genotype wasn't determined. My liver enzymes were normal and he examined my abdominal area and said it seemed okay.He believes that i've cleared the virus or i can be a carrier.???
He also suggested to do a final test of the liver is the fibroscan test,some might call it a poor mans liver test.
I want to thank everyone for their responses and hope that all you had a great holiday,Yesterday,I finally recieved my results from the specialist he was very delighted to tell me that quantitive pcr rna resulted <43 IU/ML not detected . He also ran a genotype test, in which he claims that they couldn't find the any trace of the virus and that genotype wasn't determined. My liver enzymes were normal and he examined my abdominal area and said it seemed okay.He believes that i've cleared the virus or i can be a carrier.???
He also suggested to do a final test of the liver is the fibroscan test,some might call it a poor mans liver test.
I am unclear how the occult virus could be a factor in this particular circumstance.
1. The OP *has* detectable HCV antibody and (so far) a negative PCR.
However as you state in your post (with respect to criteria for the occult virus, "....**no** detectable HCV antibodies and no evidence of HCV in their serum nevertheless"
2. Elsewhere in the cut and paste it says, "Occult HCV may be suspected if a person has persistently elevated liver enzyme levels"
Yet the OP indicated his primary doctor told him his "blood levels were normal"
1. The OP *has* detectable HCV antibody and (so far) a negative PCR.
However as you state in your post (with respect to criteria for the occult virus, "....**no** detectable HCV antibodies and no evidence of HCV in their serum nevertheless"
2. Elsewhere in the cut and paste it says, "Occult HCV may be suspected if a person has persistently elevated liver enzyme levels"
Yet the OP indicated his primary doctor told him his "blood levels were normal"
@ mohammedesabi Thank you for the response and everyone else that has posted. I had a qualitive pcr done a month ago, results negative. My physician recommended that I have a quantative pcr test and test for genotype by the infectious specialist. I will recieve my results in a week. Did you have thelessemia? At what age were you found to be infected? I also forgot to mention that I have Mediterranean anemia. I wish you the best of luck.
You're data is a bit confusing but it sounds to me like you cleared the virus,if you are that worried wait another couple months and have another HCV RNA qual or quant test done.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test is a blood test that looks for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus that causes hepatitis or for the proteins (antibodies) the body makes against HCV. These proteins will be present in your blood if you have a hepatitis C infection now or have had one in the past.
HCV genetic material (RNA) testing uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify an active hepatitis C infection. The RNA can be found in a person's blood within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to the virus. HCV RNA testing may be done to double-check a positive result on an HCV antibody test, measure the level of virus in the blood (called viral load), or show how well a person with HCV is responding to treatment.
Occult hepatitis C
There remains much we don't know about chronic hepatitis C. One such mystery is occult HCV. Usually the virus betrays itself by the presence of antibodies or viral genetic material (RNA) in the blood serum or plasma (the clear, fluid portion of whole blood). But some people who have no detectable HCV antibodies and no evidence of HCV in their serum nevertheless harbor hidden virus elsewhere in their bodies. (HCV is not the only virus that can take an occult form; HIV, for example, can hide in "reservoir" sites such as the brain and lymph nodes even if blood viral load is undetectable.)
Occult HCV may be suspected if a person has persistently elevated liver enzyme levels or extrahepatic (outside the liver) conditions commonly associated with hepatitis C. About one-third of people with chronic HCV have persistently normal levels of one such enzyme, alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Although many people with normal ALT do not progress to serious liver disease, some do develop fibrosis. A recent large study showed that patients with normal ALT can benefit from therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, suggesting that HCV-infected people with normal ALT should be treated based on the same guidelines as those with elevated ALT.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepatitisC/message/9703
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test is a blood test that looks for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus that causes hepatitis or for the proteins (antibodies) the body makes against HCV. These proteins will be present in your blood if you have a hepatitis C infection now or have had one in the past.
HCV genetic material (RNA) testing uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify an active hepatitis C infection. The RNA can be found in a person's blood within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to the virus. HCV RNA testing may be done to double-check a positive result on an HCV antibody test, measure the level of virus in the blood (called viral load), or show how well a person with HCV is responding to treatment.
Occult hepatitis C
There remains much we don't know about chronic hepatitis C. One such mystery is occult HCV. Usually the virus betrays itself by the presence of antibodies or viral genetic material (RNA) in the blood serum or plasma (the clear, fluid portion of whole blood). But some people who have no detectable HCV antibodies and no evidence of HCV in their serum nevertheless harbor hidden virus elsewhere in their bodies. (HCV is not the only virus that can take an occult form; HIV, for example, can hide in "reservoir" sites such as the brain and lymph nodes even if blood viral load is undetectable.)
Occult HCV may be suspected if a person has persistently elevated liver enzyme levels or extrahepatic (outside the liver) conditions commonly associated with hepatitis C. About one-third of people with chronic HCV have persistently normal levels of one such enzyme, alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Although many people with normal ALT do not progress to serious liver disease, some do develop fibrosis. A recent large study showed that patients with normal ALT can benefit from therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, suggesting that HCV-infected people with normal ALT should be treated based on the same guidelines as those with elevated ALT.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepatitisC/message/9703
i have a story similar to yours , i was tested positive for anti-hcv ,then i went for a pcr test and came back negative , also my enzymes was normal , then i went to a doc who told me to wait 3 or 4 months and do another pcr , i got my new pcr week ago and it was positive with viral load 450,000. so my advice to you based on my own experience wait for 3 or 4 months and do it again. i wish all best to you.
Ever since that I was infected with the virus i had never known about it. My parents never told me about it because they didn't want me worried and that the doctors had said to them it was a tiny spot in the blood and I was fine the only thing was that i couldnt give blood. Im not sure if the doctor was referring to the antibodies given to the final results in 1994 rt-pcr was negative. I found out when i went to my primary physician and had a full panel of blood tests done. Pre the BMT hcv was found in the blood and as Liver biopsy stated that I had moderate chronic hepatitis. I'm confused because the antibodies were found and in 93 the pcr was positive. In 94 they ran a rt- pcr and it was negative. After arriving to America my mother would bring me for visits and finally they said that I no longer needed checkups. She believes that I had biopsy throughout the visits. My current test shows that I'm anti-hcv positive, but pcr was negative. The blood enZymes were found to be normal. I don't know what to make of all of this. Reading only with all of the possibilities that it's as symptomatic and liver enzymes can be normal and that virus is sometimes undetecable for 6 month and then visible. I'm really scared about this guys.
"I hope other people respond to your post since I think I must be missing something. I do not understand how or why this matter has progressed so far."
No I think you pretty much covered it, I see no reason for further testing.
No I think you pretty much covered it, I see no reason for further testing.
I never heard of that before,initially your immune system cleared the virus on it's own, all your PCRs since then all indicated you are HCV negative.Unless you have a HCV occult infection,but that can only be seen with a biopsy.Again I never heard of an intermediate HCV infection,once the virus is gone it's gone for ever unless you get reinfected from an outside source.Is your specialist a hepa or GI?
"...anti-body resulted postive. Therefore I had a confirmatory test by pcr and it tested negative."
1. Hepatitis C is not an STD
2. The virus is NOT intermittent: You either have it or you do not
3. The virus in NOT intermittently in the blood: it is either present or it is not.
4. It sounds as if you were exposed to Hepatitis C in the early 90s and cleared it on your own. You will always test positive for the Hepatitis C Antibody.
5. Your PCR was negative yet an infectious disease specialist is going to test you again (???)
6. Since the doctor ran the quantitive pcr already I would wait for the result.
I may be missing something but it seems premature to schedule a biopsy or any other type of assessment for fibrosis.
With respect to Hepatitis C a biopsy is performed to determine the presence and/or extent of fibrosis caused by the virus. If you are PCR negative I do not see how a medical doctor could justify further liver assessment as medically necessary - with respect to Hepatitis C.
_____________________
I hope other people respond to your post since I think I must be missing something. I do not understand how or why this matter has progressed so far.
Do you have other medical conditions or do you have reason to believe you were exposed to Hepatitis C again - such as high risk behavior?
Best of luck
1. Hepatitis C is not an STD
2. The virus is NOT intermittent: You either have it or you do not
3. The virus in NOT intermittently in the blood: it is either present or it is not.
4. It sounds as if you were exposed to Hepatitis C in the early 90s and cleared it on your own. You will always test positive for the Hepatitis C Antibody.
5. Your PCR was negative yet an infectious disease specialist is going to test you again (???)
6. Since the doctor ran the quantitive pcr already I would wait for the result.
I may be missing something but it seems premature to schedule a biopsy or any other type of assessment for fibrosis.
With respect to Hepatitis C a biopsy is performed to determine the presence and/or extent of fibrosis caused by the virus. If you are PCR negative I do not see how a medical doctor could justify further liver assessment as medically necessary - with respect to Hepatitis C.
_____________________
I hope other people respond to your post since I think I must be missing something. I do not understand how or why this matter has progressed so far.
Do you have other medical conditions or do you have reason to believe you were exposed to Hepatitis C again - such as high risk behavior?
Best of luck
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
