HCV antibodies detected - direct HCV test negative

[medicalstudent]

Hi,

my brother in law was tested "weakly reactive" for HCV antibodies. The direct test (PCR) for HCV was negative. This does mean my brother in law is for sure HCV negative, doesn't it? His doctor (not a hepatologist) told him HCV antibody tests sometimes show "weakly reactive" when a person is stressed or has some ongoing infection (non-HCV).

This doesn't make much sense to me. As direct testing for HCV (PCR) showed he is HCV-negative how can his body produce anti-bodies against a virus which never attacked him? Isn't it just a labor failure (cut-off)?

thanks, Steve

[Lulu2005]

Hi Steve, Your brother-in-law should be retested by PCR in a few months. However, all the antibody test shows is that at one time he was exposed to the virus. There are some people (15-25% approx) who clear the virus on their own. He is likely one of those. People with hepatitis C almost always keep the antibody even when they clear the virus. And, it is not a protective antibody so the person can be infected again if he engages in any risky behaviors.

[1scared girl]

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me.I was going through the hiring process for a job at the hospital,Hepatitis screening was required.I was told my Hep C was "low positive". I had liver function test which were normal,also the test to measure the viral cound in my blood-PCR quant.-it also was normal-no virus found.I have the antibody showing up but no virus.One physician thinks I may have been exposed to it through a blood transfusion 19 yrs ago but cleared it on my own.Several other drs think it was just a "fluke" thing and I never had it.

[Cherylshocked]

was there liver damage at all..Can you have hep c antibodies with liver damage and it still not be hepc..or is this wishful thinking on my part??