Hep C Scare? and Joining the army!

[hegs]

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.

[hegs]

Also came back with no viral load what so ever.

[portann]

Hegs: "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."

Could you check what you wrote above? It seems to me the result from Queensland Lab would say negative in order to be discordant with the Sullivan Lab.

According to the conclusion, you do not have HCV. You say you had seven PCR tests for virus, all negative and those are definitive tests, unlike the antibody tests. (Are you sure there were seven PCR's?!)

The antibody tests can be false positive and are only pre-tests to find out if you actually have the virus. The PCR's say you don't, so you don't and therefore the recommendation is that there is no barrier to your recruitiment.

I didn't know there was a barrier to recruitment if you have HCV.

Several people here contracted HCV during their time in the military.

[Lauma]

In Australia you are not allowed to join the armed forces if you are HCV positive.  Not sure what the reasoning is behind it. It could be due to the potential risk of passing on the virus if you are injured during combat.

[hegs]

That would be correct, I have no viral load and yes i have 7 PCR-RNA, I have no hep c only hep c antibodies. Both labs showed NEG results. And one neg for murex.

Sorta of confused as they are still saying no..

[hegs]

am i one of the lucky ones to get rid of it by myself?

[apache1]

==============================================================
letter from my infectious disease specialist.

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

An infectious disease specialist should know better.
no ***active*** infection at present.
This terminology is used for  hep B, no such thing as active/inactive hep C.
This #2 sentence is probably raising flags with your recruitment.
Plus it is unusual in a letter that a Dr would misspell exposure and obvious...was this a cut and paste or your own interpretation of the letter?

Anyhow, if you test negative on a very sensitive viral load test, you do not have HCV period. You either have Hep C or you don't.
IMO, no need to put "no ***active*** infection at present." in a letter trying to explain why you don't have hcv and should be recruited.

All thats needed is and is 100% true is,  'no infection at present'

Go to a hepatologist and get a proper letter that explains it correctly without the scare factor of active/inactive stigma over your head.

you

[fretboard]

I didn't know there was a barrier to recruitment if you have HCV.
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Terrible situation but door number 2 is more likely.  Some agencies are typically extra ignorant on this issue, no offense to your branch of the armed services.  You could have been exposed to HepC and cleared it on your own and the test the army gives is still showing that you test positive for the antibodies.  The other negative tests you have given were done with a different manufactured test.  If I were you I would appeal their decision because at this point you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Try at all cost to get them to prove that you are still contagious with only an antibody test.  However it would benefit you to find out which test the army uses in determining your future, meaning who is the manufacturer of the actual test so you can present a better case.  The bottom line in my opinion, which in all honesty is just a guess.  Is that if they continue to get a positive test then they may in fact be able to keep you out.  
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Several people here contracted HCV during their time in the military.
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Unfortunately contracting HepC while you are in the army may be a totally different animal than trying to get in with a positive antibody test.  good luck and utilize all options as you definitely deserve to get in if you want    

[hegs]

hey mate thank you.

No i didnt have much time so i had to quickly write it up sorry about that.

Yes ive had plenty of tests now very sensitive test also. All came back for no viral load what so ever. Going back to see another specialist next week. Im going to see a infectious disease specialist. to clear it up...

[apache1]

IMHO, do not go back to your infectious disease specialist.
I repeat
Go to a hepatologist and get a proper letter that explains it correctly without the scare factor of active/inactive stigma over your head.

apache

[hegs]

hey mate, ive been to one.

The then army pointed me to see an infectious diseases specialists.

cheers.

[apache1]

Ok... wouldn't the Hepatologist write you a proper letter without the active/inactive stigma?

[hegs]

well all i know is the army told me to see that specialist.

Get him to determine the outcome, whats my best choice here?

Am i hep c free?

[portann]

Hegs is at the pre-recruitment screening stage and seven PCR's say he has no virus.  The initial antibody reports were DISCORDANT, which means that one was negative and the other positive. The false positive was probably why he was given so many PCR's.

As Hegs said, he transcribed the info himself, hence the typos. :)

Hegs, you never had HCV, according to the tests.

Don't sweat the antibody tests, one way or the other. They're only baby tests and can give false results.

The real thing are the PCR's and you say you had seven of them, so you can rest easy!

Be careful in the military to not share razors or toothbrushes. Although everyone is pre-screened in Oz, according to Lauma, things happen. You're best off avoiding any blood-to-blood contact. This can happen, though rarely, via shared personal grooming items.

Best regards,

Port

[hegs]

thank port feels good to hear that

I still wonder today if i had hep c, I Thank every moment :)

Will serve my country best i can :)

[hegs]

still stumped on how to prove them wrong...

And what specialist to see i have one next week to see an infectious disease specialist.

[fretboard]

It could be all you need to do is have them prove that you are contagious with only a positive antibody test.  I personally don't think anyone can prove that one way or the other.  They could tell you to take a hike but you have nothing to lose at this point.  What you really need to find out is if they in fact can keep you out with a positive antibody test.   good luck

[portann]

Apache knows about these letter things. You don't have HCV, but the letter unfortunately does NOT entirely exclude the possibility that you may have had it in the past (to cover its bases?).

Since the root problem is the one positive antibody test in the initial screening compared to the other negative antibody test, it seems you could be re-tested (even seven times!) with antibody tests and use that to further document and protect yourself

[hegs]

I will find out tomorrow or next Wednesday also having a riba test i, I also heard i shouldn't get knocked back if i have antibodies they just want a complete NO that i don't have the disease.

[Bill1954]

Hegs, serial HCV antibody tests should demonstrate unequivocally that you don’t currently have Hep C. The RIBA results will conclusively tell whether or not you were ever exposed. The antibody tests are subject to false positives; they are an inexpensive way to screen large groups of people, but aren’t very specific in nature.

It shouldn’t be difficult to get a doctor to sign off that you pose no risk of contagion; you *can not* pass antibodies to someone else, and they will *not* harm you, either.

Best to you—

Bill

[portann]

Thank goodness you finally woke up,  Bill, to help out here. It's 7:23 AM your time and I know you've already been busy helping Zoogie. :)

Hegs looks good to go, right?

Gosh, I hate those false positives - I've had some for other health issues and they play havoc with your mind.

xoxo

[Bill1954]

Good morning, Port! I’ve always gotten up early; probably a carry over from construction, and trying to get a jump on the day :o). The false positive thing is problematic, huh? It can really disrupt lives, and can take forever to straighten out… it’s like a black mark on the hand back in the old days, isn’t it?

Be well,

Bill

[hegs]

thank bill you sorted it out, Hopefully I can get the specialist to write that down and use that letter against them :) that d be great, Big day next Wednesday, Hoping for false positive. But either way I don't have it :) and im greatful :D

Cheers to all!

[hegs]

also what if they army keep knocking me back?

[Bill1954]

Hegs, serial HCV antibody tests should demonstrate unequivocally that you don’t currently have Hep C.

Oops! This sentence *should* have read:

Hegs, serial HCV *RNA* [PCR] tests should demonstrate unequivocally that you don’t currently have Hep C.

Either way, you should be fine; good luck with your service :o)

Bill