Hepatitis

[Shannon197977]

I recently had some blood work done and it said that there was the presence of antibodies to recombinant antigens c22-3, c200, and n55.  So does this mean I have Hepatitis C?

[Dawn703]

They can say you were infected (provided it's NOT a false positive) and May harbor HCV and MAY transmit HCV. However, until you have an RNA PCR, you don't know if you in fact are harboring HCV. That said, it is very possible that you do have HCV. Again about 20% of people infected will clear the virus on their own, but would still test positive for antibodies.

Your next step is to go to the Dr and have him/her order an RNA PCR to determine if you actually have the virus in your blood.

Until you do, just be careful. HCV is blood to blood transfer, it is very hard to infect someone unles you are swapping blood with someone, meaning if your blood (if you're HCV positive) would somehow get into a fresh open cut of someone, share needles, etc...

[Shannon197977]

The blood work also said "subject has been infected with and may harbor infectious hcv and may transmit Hep C.  So this makes me think that I do in fact have it.  So it that the case or do i still need further testing?

[Dawn703]

Welcome to the forum. Not necessarily, it means you may have antibodies to HCV. About 20% of people who contract HCV rid the virus on their own but will always test postive to antibodies. There are also false positives in test results, meaning you don't really have the antibodies at all, the test was wrong. Your next step would be to see a Dr. and have an RNA PCR to determine if there is virus in your blood. This is the only true way to know for sure if you are HCV positive. Good luck and keep us posted.