Lab Result- Please help

[TheFalcon]

Hi Everyone,
  I haven't been on for awhile, sure has been tough.
Received a call today from our family Dr's office with my husbands HepC-RNA result as <615, Could someone please tell me what this means?  Thanks so much!
~Falc

[Cindy10]

It means he has a low viral load. He may be undetected, but you need to have a more sensitive test to confirm.
One that goes down to at least <10. Good luck!

[nygirl7]

Yeah that is the old old old test that I didn't even think they really gave anymore.  If I had had THAT test I would have thought I was UND from week 4 on.

I was not.

A TMA will give you a result to 5 - I don't really know in the beginning if it needs to be THAT sensitive (if the doc doesn't want to or the insurance doesn't want to - I don't know your particulars) but I would INSIST that this archaic test be thrown out and tell him to give you a much better one.

That is WAY too high, I agree.

[mkeela]

By the standards of this test, you are UND. That is awesome news for you...BUT, there are other tests that go down WAY farther than 615. I haven't been able to talk my Dr. into a more sensitive test so all I have to go on is <615 and I am 4 weeks post tx...I plan on MAKING my MD give me a more sensitive test at 12wks post.
Try your hardest to get a more sensitive PCR...I know the frustration of NOT knowing if you're carrying 614 of them buggers. Good luck and CONGRATS!!!!!

[friole]

Sorry to hear things are so rough for your hubby.  As others have said, the results of that test are good.  It is just that we are leery of tests that are not sensitive enough.  Too many of us have had small viral loads which would have appeared undetectable on your test, and then not cleared.

What week is he?  Was this the first PCR test done during treatment?  What genotype and pre treatment viral load?  Sorry if you have already answered these questions.

frijole

[giddyup]

I talked to someone called falcon once. Are you from LI?
giddy up