If hepatitis C RNA negative, are you still contagious?

[juventus]

Hello, my girlfriend tested positive for hepatitis C anitbodies, but negatove for the RNA test.

The doctor said that she must have cleared the virus on her own.

My question is, is she still contagious?

[Trish77]

No, she is not contagious.  She can't donate blood because they're extra-cautious about the blood supply but she is not contagious.  If the RNA test is negative, she is not contagious and is lucky, as Trinity said.

[juventus]

ok, but why cant she donate blood if she isnt contagious? is it because there is a chance she is contagious?

[jdwithhcv]

The red cross screens blood for the hep C antibody, and anyone who has ever been exposed will test postitve for that antibody, even if they have no viral load.  I doubt they could afford to do viral load testing on every donation, so they err on the side of caution.  

[Trish77]

Thanks jd, that's an explanation with much more clarity.

[Marcia2202]

No, she is not contagious and I also second what jd is saying.

[Marcia2202]

and what Trin is saying

[Rockerforlife]

Iisnt your body fighting the virus naturally(SVR) the same as fighting the disease with drugs....what about the new studies out now that say the C  can be detected in SVR patients liver ,but still not their blood...my belief is that the virus may always be in your body,but at such low level that to pass it on to another you would have drink thier blood with a slash on your tounge