Hep C Antibodies

[HopefulllyCured]

I had Hep C and went through 48 weeks of treatment.  By week 9 of treatment, the virus was no longer detectable.  I completed the full regimen of interferon/ribavirin treatment in August '06 and recently went for my 72 week check.  The Hep C virus remains undetectable; however, my antibodies came back positive (+26.25).  My physicians have stated that statistically, if the virus is gone before week 12 and the full 48 week treatment is completed, the chances of it coming back are slim to none.  

My physicians were slightly concerned with the positive antibodies and have decided to repeat the test with another lab.  Do I have reason for concern?

[mremeet]

It's normal for HCV antibodies to persist in those that achieve SVR status, either naturally on their own or via successful drug therapy. From what I've heard the antibodies will persist for many years, and usually for life. But, as you probably know, the presence of the antibodies is not harmful to you and it does not mean you have the virus. A PCR test is what's required to determine actual viral presence.

But if you ended treatment in Aug of '06, and you're still PCR negative, then you're odds are extremely good that the virus is gone for good (like 96-98%). Welcome to SVR-sville!

[DoubleDose]

I have to say that I would be very concerned about my Doctor's capabilities if he had been alarmed at the HCV antibodies being positive after treatment!  Thay always are positive, in probably every SVR out there.  They remain positive, possibly for life, because they ONCE in the past had reacted to the virus.  The antibodies have nothing to do with the virus being there currently, or not there.  I do not know of ANY experienced HCV doctors that would test for antibodies to the virus after treatment!  It provides NO information at all.  If your PCR (viral load) test was negative at six months post therapy, then you no longer have the virus.  I would ask my doctor, point blank, why they would do an antibody test!!!  It is a strange thing to do.

Clarify this issue, because maybe he is talking about some other test entirely.  I just do not understand the logic at all.

DoubleDose

[HopefulllyCured]

Oddly enough, my doctor did not even request the test!  The lab ran it with the panel by mistake.  My HCV Qual came back undetectable and my HCV Quan came back negative.  SVR!

FYI: I did find out that there are two different kinds of antibodies: IgM and IgG.  IgM are present when an infection begins.  IgG are present in a chronic state.  My doc was concerned that if I had IgM antibodies present, I could have been reinfected from a recent emergency surgery.  Thankfully that was not the case!