How can I have a positive Hcv Ab and a negative within a week?

[EstherCst]

The clinic that performed the positive test also performed a Hcv NAA Quant that was undectectable.

[flyinlynn]

Wow never knew it could’ve as high as 30%

I was diagnosed when I donated blood back in 1990 I’m sure testing was much different then. I never saw that test result my diagnosis was based on the antibody test and slightly elevated liver enzymes. There was no viral load test available at that time.  I treated back in like 1993 or 1995 with interferon monotherapy 3 shots a week for 6 months and no other medications. My treatment failure was based on no change in my liver enzymes post treatment. Very much the dark ages of hep c treatment and diagnosis.

Needless to say I very happy we now have very effective treatments. Hopefully soon we will be able to treat and cure everyone with hep c and entirely eliminate the virus.

In health
Lynn

[willbb]

Yes, dark ages.
We should keep in mind tho I would imagine these folks are looking for the latest info. :)

[flyinlynn]

Yup

[willbb]

If the number called the S/co on the A B test was very low (but still over 1) it would be considered positive but most likely a False Positive.
This happens fairly frequently as the test is very sensitive and can cross react with other antibodies in your system.
The important thing is that the Quant was neg. therefore you do not have HCV

[flyinlynn]

Good point there can also be false positives antibody tests especially if only weakly positive.

But either way a false positive or a strongly positive antibody test the only way to know if you are infected is to have the HCV RNA test. But as your Quant test was not detected you are good to go.

Congrats

[willbb]

Always a good idea to tell them both  possibilities, or someone might spend forever raking their brain about when infected.
Keep up the good work.

[flyinlynn]

Yeah good point again. But even so there are  those who learn they are infected and have no idea how they got to be that way.

Still there would be the nagging question of why would you have a false positive.

Life has so many questions sometimes we just have to accept the unknown, unknowables

[willbb]

There really is not a nagging question on why one has a false positive with an AB test
Possibly you have missed the fact it is very common with a low S/co and I have stated why that happens.
Best to give them  all the possibilities

[EstherCst]

Thank you

[flyinlynn]

Sure will just thinking of the op. If I were the op I would as you said wonder where I might have encountered hep c to have the positive antibody test but even if it was likely a false positive  I would still be wondering why I would have a false positive. But yes thanks in the future I will try to remember to point out that it could be a prior resolved infection or a false positive if the score is low.

Any idea the value where it changes from a possible false positive to likely a true infection?

Couldn’t someone with a low weakly positive result still have had a self resolved hep c infection?

Best regards

[willbb]

There is no exact number on the S/co that says this is a resolved infection or a false pos. however the research shows (copied below) it is quite high for false pos. (approx.30%)

Especially for the patient that says they do not know of anyknown exposure.

My point was ,and we have seen many questions like this before where they say they had a pos. AB and neg. PCR and wonder why? It is always a good idea to provide both scenarios to them raher than just say "you have been exposed and have cleared it".

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276135696_The_Usefulness_of_Anti-HCV_Signal_to_Cut-off_Ratio_in_Predicting_Viremia_in_Anti-HCV_in_Patients_With_Hepatitis_C_Virus_Infection

Quotes:
The result of the current study showed that in low positive anti-HCV ELISA results, the frequency of false positivity was high

[flyinlynn]

Ok thanks for the info I’ll check it out :-)

[willbb]

If the poster has been told the only reason for this is exposure they might say to themselves.
When the F..K did that happen??

They have the alternative of knowing it could very well have been a False Positive)(which is quite likely)
And mentioning why these happen..... that the test is very sensitive  and can often pick up other AB’ s. in the body  seems the complete answer.... to me anyway.
You do a great service ...

[flyinlynn]

This would mean you are positive for hepatitis c antibodies which means you were exposed at sometime in the past. However, you test not detected for the hep c virus itself in your blood meaning you do not have any hep c virus circulating in your blood stream and you are not currently infected.

If you were exposed to hep c in the past about 25% of people beat the virus without any treatment. You will test positive for hep c antibodies but not detected for the hep c virus itself.

Antibodies are made by our own bodies immune system when it tries to fight a virus. Having antibodies does not mean you are currently infected.

Once you have antibodies you will always test positive for life. The only way to know if you have hep c antibodies if you are infected is to have the test for the virus itself the HCV RNA by PCR or similar named test.

[EstherCst]

Thank you.