HCV RNA PCR - Qualitative Test - Timing

[dgfm]

Hi;

First of all thanks for the opportunity. Pls correct me if i'm wrong or asking wrong questions..

- Possible exposure at 12 Jan 2013
- Tomorrow, i will give a blood sample and take HCV PCR test for qualitative result, in order to see if i'm infected or not.

My questions:

1) Am i doing the right thing? Taking the right test at right time?
2) How can i be sure if the lab is reliable or not. It has  this QCMD certificate and it's a genetic diagnostic lab. They say they can provide the result in 5 days. Is it accurate?
3) If that test says i'm positive, i assume that will mean yes i am positive but if it says "negative", should i take another test at another time?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

[Dannyboi7]

Congrats you don't have the HCV.

[ceanothus]

Congratulations on the negative results, and thanks for letting us know too, as we all need to hear good news a little more often. Thanks for the prayers too, they are much appreciated!

[dgfm]

got the results back.

Negative.

thanks all, many thanks for the responses.

hope and pray for all dealing with this. hope everyone fights off and defeats this.

many thanks again.

@ceanothus ; really truly appreciate for help & also pray.

[dgfm]

thanks a lot for the answer.

[dgfm]

thanks. actually not. this will be the first test i'll ever take. since possible exposure date is now more than 3 wks earlier from today, i've been searching the tests for early diagnosis. to be honest i've been waiting this for 3 wks. i'd better take this qualitative thing with antibody test together and see a doctor with the results and see what's happening.. i've haf 40 acnes at my face due to stress in this 3 wks. anyway thanks everyone. livin' on a prayer with gloves at my hands..

[Idyllic]

Anti-Hcv is the Hepatitis C Antibody. HCV PCR detects HCV RNA actually in the blood
Most people usually test for the antibody first and then HCV PCR if the antibody is detected so I was not exactly certain. I found this on the Body ******* web site:

A test can detect hepatitis C as soon as your immune system begins creating antibodies. However, because patients rarely display any symptoms, this condition isn't found in even a fraction of the people who have it.

Generally speaking, it takes anywhere from a week to several months for your body to produce the antibodies. Assuming that your body begins producing hepatitis C antibodies within a week of infection, and you take a blood test, the earliest the disease will be detected is an average of three weeks, including the time taken for the test.

The diagnostic algorithm says to re-test in 6 months if the result is negative
http://www.thebody.com/content/art1695.html
__________________
The CDC has this in the FAQ section:

How soon after exposure to HCV can HCV RNA be detected by PCR?

HCV RNA appears in blood and can be detected as early as 2–3 weeks after infection.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm
________________

Have you tested for HCV Antibody? It is possible there could be presence of the antibody without being actually infected with the virus itself.

[dgfm]

any comment pls?

[barefoot1]

My infusion nurse gets my results back in less than 5 days and I use Labcorp....so that part is pretty accurate.

How soon after exposure to HCV can anti-HCV be detected?

HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests (enzyme immunoassay) 4–10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm#c5

[dgfm]

pls any idea?