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How do I interpret a HepC bloodtest
I just got the results of my bloodtest, HCV-PCR, Quant (non-Graph). it reads: Hep C Quantification 3,060 IU/ml andHCV log103.486 Log10 IUML. What does this mean? I am uninsured an do not have a doctor. I got the blood tests done at LabCorp.
Hi There. Go to the Placer County health Services at Dewitt Center. They have a clinic at Dewitt and the county is motivated to assist you. Go and you will get the help and direction you need. All this can be complicated. Start at Dewitt Center. If you just recently were told you have Hep C expect a call
from Public Health. That agency will also actively direct you to where you can get assistance with financial and medical needs. There is help for you.
All you have to do is ask.
Best to you
from Public Health. That agency will also actively direct you to where you can get assistance with financial and medical needs. There is help for you.
All you have to do is ask.
Best to you
Can-do and hrsepwrguy have given you good information about the testing.
Since you live near Sacramento, you can start looking for treatment by calling UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. 800-282-3284
They may have a program that helps people without insurance. You can inquire if they offer any type of financial assistance to people without insurance.
You can also look into California's state run health insurance programs. Call your local county social services department to find out which health insurance programs are available for low income people and where you may obtain subsidized health care. .
Another option is to get into a clinical trial. UC Davis may know of upcoming trials.
Best of luck.
Since you live near Sacramento, you can start looking for treatment by calling UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. 800-282-3284
They may have a program that helps people without insurance. You can inquire if they offer any type of financial assistance to people without insurance.
You can also look into California's state run health insurance programs. Call your local county social services department to find out which health insurance programs are available for low income people and where you may obtain subsidized health care. .
Another option is to get into a clinical trial. UC Davis may know of upcoming trials.
Best of luck.
"What does this mean?"
It means you have hep c and you have a viral load of 103,486 IU/ml, the log 10 is just another way of expressing that number, as mentioned above you really need to see a doc for further evaluation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is Viral Load?
by: Albrecht Ernst
Your viral load is the amount of specific viruses that you have, in a given volume of your blood (usually 1 milliliter = 1 cubic centimeter). More precisely, it means that the amount of Hep C genetic material found in your blood corresponds to as many Hep C viruses as the given number says. Therefore the given number denotes "viral equivalents."
There appears to be no significant correlation between HCV RNA levels and ALT values or histological activity in patients untreated by anti-viral therapies (Interferon). Viral load varies between infected individuals but is not a useful prognostic indicator nor does it measure the severity of virus-induced liver disease.
WHAT DOES NEGATIVE OR "NOT DETECTED" MEAN?
The viral load can range from "not detected" to hundreds of millions. The meaning of "not detected" or "negative" differs, depending on the test used. In one lab, the detection limit for the *quantitative* HCV RNA test by *PCR* is 200 virus equivalents/ml (and with the *qualitative* test they can detect down to 10 virus equivalents/ml). The less expensive quantitative *bDNA* test has a detection limit of about 200,000 virus equivalents/ml. So it is less sensitive, but above its detection limit it is more accurate than the PCR test.
So, when you are "negative", maybe you have no Hepatitis C virus in your blood. But maybe also, you do have Hepatitis C virus in your blood, but the number of viruses is lower than the detection limit. {Example: If the less expensive quantitative *bDNA* has been used, and the detection limit is 200,000 virus equivalents/ml, any number less than this would register as "negative" or "not detected", when in fact, the viral load could be present, but less than this detection limit.} Your lab can tell you which testing measure is used, and your doctor can explain what it means in your case.
WHAT DOES "POSITIVE" MEAN?
When you get back the result of your HCV RNA quantitative test, and when the lab was able to determine the amount of virus in your blood, then it is important to write down not only the number, but also in what units this number is given.
I) Volume
The volume of blood, that the number refers to, is usually one milliliter.
But some labs give the number for 20 microliters = 1/50 milliliter. So in these cases you have to multiply the result of the viral load by 50 to get the number for 1 milliliter.
II) Amount of Virus
Unfortunately, there are several ways to express the viral load. So, in order to be able to compare different results, you have to know how to convert these numbers to some standard format, which let's say is just the plain number of viruses per milliliter, like 1.5 Million/ml, or 1,500,000/ml. (both of these numbers are the same).
a) Measure by weight
Sometimes, the lab reports the amount of genetic material found by its weight. 1 pg (pico-gram) of genetic material corresponds to about 1 million virus equivalents, so, if your lab result is given in picograms, just multiply the lab result by 1,000,000, and you have the number of viruses.
b) Measure by virus count
i) Plain numbers
Often the virus count is expressed as a plain number, like 1.73 million, or 1,730,000 or 1730000. Millions sometime are abbreviated by the prefix "M" (Mega). So when you see 1.73 Meq/ml, it means 1.73 Mega-equivalents/ml or again 1730000 equivalents/ml..
ii) Exponential format
Large numbers are often expressed in exponential form, that means a number, multiplied by 10 with an exponent. To convert this to normal numbers, append as many zeroes to a "1" as the exponent says, and multiply this with the number. In some lab report, the viral load was "Hep C RNA Quant 17.3 x 10(exp) 5 equivalents/ml". So, with 5 as exponent, you have to append 5 zeroes to a "1", that gives 100000, and multiply this with the number 17.3, that gives 1730000 as the viral load. Normally this would be written 1.73x10(exp)6, or 1.73x106 , (which are again the same number).
17.3x105 = 1.73x106 = 1,730,000
iii) Logarthmic format
Now, recently some people express these numbers also in logarithmic form (logarithmic transformed number).
log(1730000)=6.24
6.24 is the logarithmic transformed number of the viral load of our above example. A result of 3.5 for a viral load, that someone reported, seems to be such a number (unless he forgot to write down a "10" and an exponent). You need a calculator to convert this. You have to use the function 10x , where you have to replace x with the logarithmic number, in the above case 3.5. The result would be: 103.5 = 3162 virus equivalents per milliliter.
When you take the logarithmic number from the first example, 6.24, you have to calculate 106.24 = 1730000 , and here we have the original number of virus equivalents again. If you don't have a calculator, you can estimate the order of magnitude of a viral load expressed as a logarithmic number. From the logarithmic number, you take the first digit (left of the point) and add 1 to this number. This gives you the number of digits that your viral load has (expressed as a plain number).
Example: Logarithmic number 6.24
Left of the point is "6". 6+1 = 7
The number that gives the viral load is 7 digits long, that means it is between 1,000,000 and 9,999,999 (digit # 1 234 567)
The next digit (right of the point of the logarithmic number) shows whether you are high or low in the range.
In case you have a logarithmic number *and* a blood volume other than 1 ml, you have to convert the logarithmic number to a plain number *first*, and then correct it to correspond to 1 ml !
Therefore it is important to have a close look at your lab report and see in what units the result is given!
There is still no general agreement on what Viral Load is considered low and what is high in Hepatitis C. This interpretation makes sense for people not currently being treated - for someone who is 6 months into an INF + RIBA trial, even 200,000 could be considered a high titer.
(Numbers are Virus Equivalents per Milliliter)
below 200,000 very low (undetectable by *bDNA* test)
200,000 to 1,000,000 low
1,000,000 to 5,000,000 medium
5,000,000 to 25,000,000 high
above 25,000,000 very high
Once again, please note that this information is not written by an MD or medical expert. Nothing can (or should) take the place of appropriate medical care.
http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/hepatitis-c/what-is-viral-load.html
It means you have hep c and you have a viral load of 103,486 IU/ml, the log 10 is just another way of expressing that number, as mentioned above you really need to see a doc for further evaluation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is Viral Load?
by: Albrecht Ernst
Your viral load is the amount of specific viruses that you have, in a given volume of your blood (usually 1 milliliter = 1 cubic centimeter). More precisely, it means that the amount of Hep C genetic material found in your blood corresponds to as many Hep C viruses as the given number says. Therefore the given number denotes "viral equivalents."
There appears to be no significant correlation between HCV RNA levels and ALT values or histological activity in patients untreated by anti-viral therapies (Interferon). Viral load varies between infected individuals but is not a useful prognostic indicator nor does it measure the severity of virus-induced liver disease.
WHAT DOES NEGATIVE OR "NOT DETECTED" MEAN?
The viral load can range from "not detected" to hundreds of millions. The meaning of "not detected" or "negative" differs, depending on the test used. In one lab, the detection limit for the *quantitative* HCV RNA test by *PCR* is 200 virus equivalents/ml (and with the *qualitative* test they can detect down to 10 virus equivalents/ml). The less expensive quantitative *bDNA* test has a detection limit of about 200,000 virus equivalents/ml. So it is less sensitive, but above its detection limit it is more accurate than the PCR test.
So, when you are "negative", maybe you have no Hepatitis C virus in your blood. But maybe also, you do have Hepatitis C virus in your blood, but the number of viruses is lower than the detection limit. {Example: If the less expensive quantitative *bDNA* has been used, and the detection limit is 200,000 virus equivalents/ml, any number less than this would register as "negative" or "not detected", when in fact, the viral load could be present, but less than this detection limit.} Your lab can tell you which testing measure is used, and your doctor can explain what it means in your case.
WHAT DOES "POSITIVE" MEAN?
When you get back the result of your HCV RNA quantitative test, and when the lab was able to determine the amount of virus in your blood, then it is important to write down not only the number, but also in what units this number is given.
I) Volume
The volume of blood, that the number refers to, is usually one milliliter.
But some labs give the number for 20 microliters = 1/50 milliliter. So in these cases you have to multiply the result of the viral load by 50 to get the number for 1 milliliter.
II) Amount of Virus
Unfortunately, there are several ways to express the viral load. So, in order to be able to compare different results, you have to know how to convert these numbers to some standard format, which let's say is just the plain number of viruses per milliliter, like 1.5 Million/ml, or 1,500,000/ml. (both of these numbers are the same).
a) Measure by weight
Sometimes, the lab reports the amount of genetic material found by its weight. 1 pg (pico-gram) of genetic material corresponds to about 1 million virus equivalents, so, if your lab result is given in picograms, just multiply the lab result by 1,000,000, and you have the number of viruses.
b) Measure by virus count
i) Plain numbers
Often the virus count is expressed as a plain number, like 1.73 million, or 1,730,000 or 1730000. Millions sometime are abbreviated by the prefix "M" (Mega). So when you see 1.73 Meq/ml, it means 1.73 Mega-equivalents/ml or again 1730000 equivalents/ml..
ii) Exponential format
Large numbers are often expressed in exponential form, that means a number, multiplied by 10 with an exponent. To convert this to normal numbers, append as many zeroes to a "1" as the exponent says, and multiply this with the number. In some lab report, the viral load was "Hep C RNA Quant 17.3 x 10(exp) 5 equivalents/ml". So, with 5 as exponent, you have to append 5 zeroes to a "1", that gives 100000, and multiply this with the number 17.3, that gives 1730000 as the viral load. Normally this would be written 1.73x10(exp)6, or 1.73x106 , (which are again the same number).
17.3x105 = 1.73x106 = 1,730,000
iii) Logarthmic format
Now, recently some people express these numbers also in logarithmic form (logarithmic transformed number).
log(1730000)=6.24
6.24 is the logarithmic transformed number of the viral load of our above example. A result of 3.5 for a viral load, that someone reported, seems to be such a number (unless he forgot to write down a "10" and an exponent). You need a calculator to convert this. You have to use the function 10x , where you have to replace x with the logarithmic number, in the above case 3.5. The result would be: 103.5 = 3162 virus equivalents per milliliter.
When you take the logarithmic number from the first example, 6.24, you have to calculate 106.24 = 1730000 , and here we have the original number of virus equivalents again. If you don't have a calculator, you can estimate the order of magnitude of a viral load expressed as a logarithmic number. From the logarithmic number, you take the first digit (left of the point) and add 1 to this number. This gives you the number of digits that your viral load has (expressed as a plain number).
Example: Logarithmic number 6.24
Left of the point is "6". 6+1 = 7
The number that gives the viral load is 7 digits long, that means it is between 1,000,000 and 9,999,999 (digit # 1 234 567)
The next digit (right of the point of the logarithmic number) shows whether you are high or low in the range.
In case you have a logarithmic number *and* a blood volume other than 1 ml, you have to convert the logarithmic number to a plain number *first*, and then correct it to correspond to 1 ml !
Therefore it is important to have a close look at your lab report and see in what units the result is given!
There is still no general agreement on what Viral Load is considered low and what is high in Hepatitis C. This interpretation makes sense for people not currently being treated - for someone who is 6 months into an INF + RIBA trial, even 200,000 could be considered a high titer.
(Numbers are Virus Equivalents per Milliliter)
below 200,000 very low (undetectable by *bDNA* test)
200,000 to 1,000,000 low
1,000,000 to 5,000,000 medium
5,000,000 to 25,000,000 high
above 25,000,000 very high
Once again, please note that this information is not written by an MD or medical expert. Nothing can (or should) take the place of appropriate medical care.
http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/hepatitis-c/what-is-viral-load.html
Hi and welcome to the forum, what this test means is you have Hep C with a viral load of 3,060. The log value of 3.486 log 10 is just another way of stating this. Your viral load is very low. Have them genotype you and that will tell you your best options on treating... Best to you.
Hi DeCC
I read your information and you wrote you have Hepatitis C. How do you know this is it from this test result? Have you seen a doctor at all? The test is a viral load test it tells how much virus is circulating in your blood.
We are not doctors here you really need to see a doctor for a complete interpretation of your result and other testing you should have like Genotype testing. There are programs to help people without insurance and some of the drug companies help with the cost of medicines so you can treat and hopefully get rid of the virus.
Good luck
Lynn
I read your information and you wrote you have Hepatitis C. How do you know this is it from this test result? Have you seen a doctor at all? The test is a viral load test it tells how much virus is circulating in your blood.
We are not doctors here you really need to see a doctor for a complete interpretation of your result and other testing you should have like Genotype testing. There are programs to help people without insurance and some of the drug companies help with the cost of medicines so you can treat and hopefully get rid of the virus.
Good luck
Lynn
You must live in America it must be hard to have to have insurance or you can't see a doctor I'm Australian we have a thing called medicare this is good cuz I can see a doctor then pay the bill nothing less then 70$ depends on what kind of doctor you see then you take the receipt to medicare and you get half your money back so if it cost 70$ to see a doctor I get 35$ back how does your system work you must have private health insurance to see a doctor I don't really have an answer to your question but I'm here for support
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