HEP C RNA QUESTION 1.93E+5 IU/mL

[hepcquestions]

My doctor is so uneducated on this virus.... She told me that public health did not send her the RNA results. When I asked for  copy of my blood work there was an RNA result, but I am clueless to what it means.

Hep C RNA Viral Load - Detected 1.93E+5 IU/mL

Note: HCV Viral Load conversion factor 1 IU/mL=2.70 copies per mL
          Values are expressed in Scientific E Notation (i.e. E+X= 10 to the power of X)

Hep C Genotype - Type 1a



I have tried to do my research online and to my understanding this is low, but I may be wrong. Just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction. I called my doctors office, they told me to call the lab and the lab redirected me to a voicemail....

[MHEditor]

This article discusses the steps you should take after you get a confirmed diagnosis and how important it is to find a specialist, and also provides links to other articles that might be of interest about Hep C. It sounds like you are on the right road. Good luck and please come back and let us know how you're doing.

http://www.medhelp.org/hepatitis-c/articles/Just-Diagnosed-with-Hepatitis-C-Heres-Whats-Next/2254

[flyinlynn]

that number is a short hand way of expressing a large number it is read as 1.9 times 10 to the 5th power (aka 10 times 10 times 10 times 10 times 10) so the number in the common numbering system is 190,000 IU/mL to that is how many copies of the virus circulating in your blood. For your comparison my viral load before my most recent treatment was 2.4 million IU/mL or 2,400,000 or 2.4 E+6 same number expressed in different ways.

Or you can Google scientific notation

Scientific notation is the way that scientists easily handle very large numbers or very small numbers. For example, instead of writing 0.0000000056, we write 5.6 x 10-9.

But anyway viral load is on no significance except to confirm you are infected with hep c. Viral load has no correlation to severity of illness.

[hepcquestions]

I know that I am infected with Hep c,
I am just wondering if that viral load meant anything. I am guessing I got the virus over 5 years ago from my ex who was a drug user. Thankfully my partner now and my toddler are negative.

I am going insane as I am newly pregnant with my second child and just found out I tested positive. My doctor is so clueless, she said the lab cancelled my RNA test and has no results (she was wrong) Instead of requesting more blood work she is just sending me to a specialist. So now it will be at least a month before I even get more blood work.

I know you can't take any medication or treatments while pregnant or nursing. I was just trying to look on the bright side and hoping I was in the 25% who fought the virus off, but I guess not :(

[flyinlynn]

Viral load has no relationship to severity of illness.

Sexual transmission is not common with hep c. The CDC does not recommend barrier protection for long term monogamous couples. There is a great risk of sexual transmission in the presence of HIV, for those with multiple sex partners, and for those who engage in rough sex  practices. There are many who have no idea how they became infected with hep c.

Your doctor referring you to a specialist is the correct course of action.

Hep c is very curable now. See the specialist and get any additional testing. After you have you baby you can start treatment and be cured.

Honestly everything will be fine it will just take some time

Congrats on your soon to arrive new little one and best of luck to you and your family.