I just got some more info...confused!

[skarykat]

So I get this email today from the clinics office as I had sent to ask some questions on the test they did. Here is goes.......

Hi A, Doctor has spoken to the infectious disease doctor and he is requesting that you have an additional test done.  It’s called a Hep C DNA/PCR. The testing that you received was HCV Antibody(Hep C Virus Ab)when that came back positive then we followed up with a RIBA which is a CDC guideline for this result and this came back negative.

What does this really mean?

[FlGuy]

The first test (the Antibody test) determined that at one point you had been exposed to the Hep C virus.  There are two possibilities now; that you were exposed and your immunce system fought off the infection or that you were exposed and are currently infected with HCV.  The additional test (Hep C DNA PCR) is a test to determined if you have the infetion now.  It;s a blood draw that looks for the virus and will count the amount in the sample.  If that comes back positive there may be another teat to follow, determing the type (and there are a bunch) of of geno-types of virus.  You have entered the twighlight zone of hcv, testing and waiting.  Good luck.

[FlGuy]

thats "another test to follow".  That Oedipus thing again.

[Bill1954]

Hi Skarycat,

Ok; the initial testing for Hep C is done with ‘antibody testing. Antibodies are produced by our own bodies in response to the presence of an antigen; in this case, it was Hepatitis C virus. These antibodies aren’t dangerous at all; they are part of our body’s immune defense mechanism.

For some reason, you received positive results from the first antibody test; this could have been a false positive, which sometimes occurs; in that event, you were never exposed to the virus to begin with.

The next step can be the RIBA testing; this confirms exposure to antibodies; it basically tells you whether or not you were actually exposed to the virus. This RIBA result was negative; it tells us you were never exposed at all, indicating the initial antibody test was a false positive result; you were never exposed to begin with.

Both of the above tests only check for presence of antibodies; not for presence of active virus.

The ‘Hep C DNA/PCR (should actually read Hep C RNA/PCR) tests for the presence of active virus; I don’t know why the infectious disease doc is ordering this test; it defies logic. Go along with the request; the result will be negative for virus, however.

The testing algorithm for HCV suggests that a negative RIBA result should be satisfactory to prove negative for virus; this test is probably unnecessary, but won’t hurt to have it done.

Bottom line, the results won’t change anything; you will still be negative for infection :o).

Best to you—

Bill

[skarykat]

Thank you!, once again. I actually went in today to have blood drawn at the request of another doc for RIBA again. I also had the Hep-C RNA/PCR ( your right the nurse typed that wrong on the prescription to the lab) done as well. Makes me think if she can't even tell me the right name what are they really doing with my test?

It was really gloomy today where I live, and as I was washing dishes the sun comes shinning in the window right at me. I just looked up and told GOD I know you are with me, through the good and the bad.

Once again.....I wait. I will keep you posted.