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669455 tn?1244616377

Hep C Scare? and Joining the army!

Hey people so I applied to join the army. As you can see why im here

7 Months ago i joined up, 3 weeks into the process got my blood test done. It came back Hep c Positive.

So they told me to get futhur testing, I got about 12 test done - 7 PCRS all come back negative for the infection in my blood, the only thing that remained was the anti bodies, ive also had ultra sounds. - currently waiting on riba tests.. also seen two specialists, gastronologist and a infectious disease specialist whos is connected with the army. who said its either a false positive or ive had contact with the disease but the body fought it off therefore im no risk.

So i wait for 5 weeks they get back to me saying I am still Hep c positive

What the hell? So they said i can appeal again which i will and if i get a no I will take it higher once again, till i win.

Im not sure what they are thinking any help would be great





Also a letter from my infectious disease specialist.


i refer to this applicant for entry into the Australian regular army


i note that pre-recruitment screening for hepatitis c shows a positive result thought two different methodologies at Queensland medical Laboratories and a positive result at Sullivan nicoladies which was not confirmed by murex assay.

subsequent to these discordant results mr hegarty had has four pcr assay split between both labratotires

there are two alternative explanations for this situation

1. either the hepatitis c antibody discordant results are false positive results and i think this is the most likely explanation

2 the alternative explanation is hepatitis c antibody results shows orevious expsoure to hep c but no active infection at present

the patient has no risk factor for hep c. I think the former explanation that these are false positive results is more likely, but the latter cannot be excluded, either way, under the current defense force regulations, and regardless of  potiental aruguments in relation to re-activation in circumstances of immunosuppresion or re-infection, mr hegarty has no hep c virus in the blood therefor in myview no barrier to his recruitment.
48 Responses
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Avatar universal
man would really like to talk to you!! i have read this entire thread and we are almost sharing the exactly same story. I have had 4 neg murex (viral load tests) and only positive to Hep C antibody. my doctor also believes that i have a cross-reacting anitbody: a antibody that may be involved for something else as i do not have any active hep c blah blah blah... i would like to delve deeper into this.......

would really like to compare notes and perhaps this is something that the army should look deeper into. power in numbers...... from what i have read it seems to be a common probalem globally that their tests have a high false positive rate, one of which we should raise and question with defense force doctors as a multiple event, not just a one off.

mate if you want to chat please feel free to contact me on ***@****


Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
they finally accepted me thank for the help everyone
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Any suggestions
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
im not sure what my options are now..

How would i battle with them? Wouldnt they walk all over me..?

Any suggestions
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
I just dont understand any of this bureaucracy hegs and that is all it is.  How you are being penalized for having a disease that you simply DO NOT HAVE is insane. I would see if you can find a lawyer who will help you probono or something.  I mean legally and technically you just don't have this disease and they should easily be able to prove THAT since you don't!

Is there anybody you can call and ask? Some sort of government type agency in Australia like legal aid or something up here in the States?

I really think that would be my next move.  THis is ABSURD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so sorry.
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Rejected again

Can i ever win?
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
Some things in life are better left a mystery, hegs :o)

Take good care, and play safe— they say the army uses real bullets; and you were frightened you might have had HCV!

Bill
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Iummunoblot is the riba too.
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
hey bill :)... cheers bud :),

By the way care to explain this?

Hep C(supplementary) non reactive

Hep c Immunoblot (indeterminate)


I shall keep it safe :)
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
Hegs, man; it looks like you have it in the bag, now! Good work, and good luck—

Bill

By the way; put that letter in a safe place; you never know what other obstacles you might encounter in life, OK?
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Inst an infectious diseases specialist the highest you can go to prove it? and Ive seen a gastroangologist, then the army sent me to him.
Helpful - 0
233616 tn?1312787196
3 tests read no antibodies, if it looks like a duck...

from the inventor of the NGI-PCR, Labcorps most sensitive >1 tests we were told this:
slide contamination, and improper machine cleaning account for the majority of false positives. There's always a human element in every machine run test..so there will always be a rate of error even in a machine able to detect parts per million it doesn't rule out one sample brushing against another at some point etc.

you will probably have to have a liver doctor confirm this in writing before the army believes it though...sad to say.

Best of everything to you, and congrats on your patriotic attitude. I'm sure you'll do fine whereever you land. But don't give up, you just need someone who actually understands these tests to convince the less knowledgable bureaucrats.

mb
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Ok test came back

PCR RNA - negative

Hep C(supplementary) non reactive

Hep c Immunoblot (indeterminate)

Also a letter from another specialist stating


Mr _____ attended on may 1th in relation to false positive hep c virus serology

This serology was performed as part of his application into the Australian regular army.

You will have previously received correspondence from Mr Dr Whitey, Infectious diseases physician in relation to this matter.

I confirm that Mr ____ has false positive hep c virus serology. It is my opion that he has never had contact with hep c virus

I belive that mr ____ false positve hep c virus serology is not a consideration in relation to the proexcssing of his application for entry into the australian regular army.

I would be pleased to discuss this matter further if required.


Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Any help


cheers.
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Ok test are here

Hep C(supplementary) non reactive

Hep c Immunoblot (indeterminate)?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The PCR RNA should say something like Virus Not Detected. Could you post it as written on your copy?

All perfect news, exactly what should clear the way to your induction without further hassle or headache.

Again, this all means YOU ARE NEGATIVE, which is what you want for the all-clear to proceed.

Congrats. That was a heck of a lot of bloodwork you did, so you can rest easy now.
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Woah!

Test come into for Riba, murex and another PCV RNA

- riba, Was no reactive.. false positive!

- Murex - Negative!

- PCR RNA, False!

Means im false positive correct?
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Well does anyone know if they army do accept on antibodies.. ive been told i should be fine to make it..
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
From your complete explanation you do not have HepC.  The army is using the incorrect verbiage to tell you that you are still HepC positive.  You are testing positive for HepC because you were once exposed, that is all.  You will forever test positive for the Hep C antibodies and some situations will still say you are HepC positive.  There's nothing you can do to change that.  

With they still take you continue to test positive for antibodies?
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
So the army sent me a letter saying im still hep C positive.

They said i can appeal! which i will - this week i got my riba test coming in, and today i had every hep c test you can. and specialist wenesday!

Any help would be great :)
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Hey bill, yep confirmed 7 PCR RNA tests. I had also 4 murex test - negative, I was told murex is another form at riba but not as sensitive.


But positive for antibodies. xD
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
ELISA is an acronym for ‘enzyme linked immunosorbent assay’; this is probably the methodology used for your antibody tests. The RIBA is a test that will confirm the exposure; however, the one that really matters through all this is the HCV RNA PCR test; this is the one that measures whether or not the active virus is actually in your blood or not. At this point, the other tests really don’t make much difference in terms of active infection. I'm unfamiliar with Murex.

Bill
Helpful - 0
669455 tn?1244616377
Also a questions what is a murex test or called Elisa i belive?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
And Hegs, you're NOT hoping for a false positive next Wednesday. You're hoping for a negative, which will mean you have no antibodies.

It's a little confusing but negative is good, positive is bad.

Let us know how it goes.
Helpful - 0
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