FIBROSPECT TESTING

MY DR. WANTS TO DO A FIBROSPECT TEST, WHAT WILL THAT TELL HIM?  ALSO, MY VIRAL LOAD TEST WAS 450,000. FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND HEARD, THATS PRETTY LOW.  WHAT IS CONSIDERED HIGH AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED LOW?  THANKS!

[can-do-man]

Its a blood test that checks the degree of liver damage, a lot cheaper then a biopsy but you get what you pay for as it is not as reliable. That said its pretty good way of telling if one has serious or very little liver damage, its the in between thats not so great............... And yea a viral load of 450,000 is low. Do you know your genotype?

[willbb]

"Fibrospect" is one means of testing by blood markers the amount of liver damage (fibrosis) you may have.
This means of testing  is somewhat more accurate at detecting mild and severe rather than than moderate fibrosis.
Your VL would be considered low ,however VL is only important when gauging how you are responding to treatment. It really has no bearing on amount of liver damage.
Do you know what Geno type you have and have you discussed treatment options with your doctor?

Good luck with the test and welcome to the group..
Will

Oh...no need to type in capitals...gives the impression you are yelling...:)

[willbb]

oh dear...

[suezeeque]

My VL was 200,000 when I was diagnosed and 600,000 the day I started treatment, less than a year later.  So I don't think it means a whole lot.  Your VL will fluctuate from day to day.

If you think it's too high today, get it checked tomorrow and you might like it better.  If you think it's low today, get it checked tomorrow and you might be shocked.  ;)

[can-do-man]

Hi Will....:)

[COOKIE115]

HELLO AGAIN!
My genotype is 1a. About treatment, I am trying to have a biopsy.  I went to have a biopsy appx. 3 wks. ago and my clotting time wasn't fast enough, right or however you say it.  My dr. then put me on vitamin k for 2 wks. After the 2 wks I went back to have a PT test done.  That was yesterday.  He mentioned the fibrospect test before I went to have the PT test done.  I don't know if he wants to do the fibrospect test or not.  Hopefully,  the vitamin k will have 'upped' my clotting time enough to do the biopsy. On another note, my brother is close to  finishing (in March) his treatment in which he was in a clinical trial. The trial is, was done by Dr. Gitlin in Atlanta. If a choice were given: to get standard treatment or to participate in a trial, which, in your opinion, would be better for a person?                                                        

[nygirl7]

Vitamin K stores in the liver so generally we are advised not to take it. I am sure your doctor must know what they are doing but I would make sure to keep an eye on that and not take too much of it.

good luck I hope your clotting time has improved.

[willbb]

Have they done other serum markers .. albumin ,INR.  platelets Bilirubin.?
Sounds like he is being rightfully cautious because of bleeding issues.
I am not familiar with the Atlanta area, maybe others will chime in on that,however there are pros and cons to treating by trial.
The treatment today for G 1   is approx. 70 -80 % successful ( depending on  a host of  factors)
There are many trials going on currently ..some with  good early results
Best to do  as much research as you can (clinicaltrials.gov) along with guidance from your doctor on when and with what to treat after he has done all the approriate testing .

Good luck with the testing...
Will.
.