False Positive for Hep C - Do I need to retest?

[rcg6681]

In June 2007 my ob/gyn said I tested positive for Hep C.  I have never done IV drugs before but I have several tattoos and I am a type one diabetic who has been hospitalized many times for infections and DKA when I was first diagnosed.

In November 2007 I finally followed up with a Heptologist who tested my viral load and told me I had none so therefore I didn't have Hep C - she said it was most likely a case of a false positive.

I have a friend with Hep C who says after treatment he has no viral load either, but he still has the virus.

Is it possible that I have Hep C but my viral load is so low it's undetectable?  Do I need more testing?  

Any insight at all would be helpful...

Thanks in advance.

[Jakied]

Ask your Dr for a confirmatory 'Riba' test.  it is VERY specific for hep c antibody.

If this is neg, then you know the screening test pos was a false pos.

[NashPred]

I don’t think that a single negative viral load test indicates that you are not infected with HCV.

HCV RNA (viral load) can become temporarily undetectable at various times over the lifetime of the virus.

If your Hepatologist tested for anti bodies to HCV and it came up negative, THEN is was most likely a false positive on your OB/GYN’s test.

Do you know if your Hepatologist tested for HCV anti bodies? Or just viral load?

I’m not a Dr. but that’s my take on it