Hep C Antibodies

Excuse my typos i am very, very upset about this

[meki]

Upset about what?

That you have the antibodies?

A lot of folks have the HCV antibodies...
But you need to get a PCR test to find out if you have a viral load.

[hungga]

already had a RIBA test that came back negative (nonreactive) but i dont understand wnat that means, I apologize for my ignorance.

[meki]

Non reactive is a good thing. But a RIBA test?

I'm sorry - would you say that the RIBA test is for testing whether you had HEP C?

First --- if you have antibodies to HepC Virus - then you have to get another test. The second test looks for a viral load.

HCV and HepC are the same thing (Hepatitis C Virus)

HCV antibodies means you've had exposure and may be infected.

Some people naturally clear HCV - and have no viral load.

Some people have viral loads and are acutely infected.

Viral load does not mean damage or non damage. But I don't know what a RIBA test is --- Someone else will have to answer that --- I had the HEP Panel to determine whether I had HCV and a PCR test to find out how high my viral loads were...

So maybe it's a special test?

[hungga]

Sorry,

I had a HCV antibody test and it came up at <1.11 low s/c cutoff
and then the doctor gave me a HVC AB RIBA TEST which came back non-reactive

Recombinant immunoblot for antibody to hepatitis C:
Supplementary test for the verification of EIA reactive results to HCV.
Indeterminate results may be found in early seroconversion, immunosuppressed patients or those unable to mount a complete antibody response.  

Some of the conditions which give false-positives in the EIA may well give an indeterminate or non-specific result in the RIBA.

[meki]

I'm gonna put my neck out on a limb here --- Can someone please help out...

I think that this is the part you need to be more concerned with:

"HVC AB RIBA TEST which came back non-reactive "

NON-REACTIVE

Means nada - nip zero.

But --- please --- before you count yourself out --- please let someone else here who has much more experience read that ok?

[hungga]

Thank you I have being some research online an you are pretty much right , I just wish I knew how I came into contact with the virus

[meki]

Sometimes we NEVER know where we came in contact with HCV.

[Lonestar823]

I can't help Hungga learn how she may have come in contact with HCV but I know how I first came in contact with Ms. Meki. ; ]  It's so good to know you are okay.  Big, big smile here tonight Meki.  

[meki]

LOL - hugs back at ya!