No viral load after showing reactive to Hep C????

Three weeks ago, my doctor called to tell me I was Hep C positive.  After fighting to get a doctor to see me, A week ago I got tested for my viral load with a HCV RNA, Geno Type and Thyroid check.  I get a liver scan this past Monday and a biopsy on Thursday.  When I get home from the hospital Thursday, I get a call from my doctor telling me that the Hep C is undetectable.  There is no viral load.  I asked what geno type it was and they said because it is undetectable, They don't know.  Does this sound possible.  Does anyone think the doctor jumped the gun having the scan and biopsy ordered before we knew the blood test results?  I am worried about insurance not paying tests and also worried that the doctor is wrong about the test results.  How can I test reactive(positive) to Hep C and not have a viral load?

[dndfunnel]

just make sure your dr is not from ausy land they kill there patients by the hundreds!hang in there the people on this sight will sort you out .cmon where are all u guys? chop chop

[honey1616]

Girlie,,,This is great news,,,,the news we are all striving to get and if you don't have to do tx,,,,,That is top of the list news lol    Yes,,,you will always test positive for hep c,,,the antibodies will be there for life but having the virus,,,is the answer you are looking for,,,,Virus showing up means its active.  You will never be able to give blood but you are hep free now!  Congratulations!

[dndfunnel]

someones looking after you!congrats it sounds all good.cheer up now no more panicking your laughing.xxdean

[Just girlie]

Viral load was undetectable.  Less than 0.

If I am undetectable without treatment, do I need to be tested every so often to make sure that I don't have a viral load.  I know some of you are on second and third treatments.  

Any thoughts would be helpful.

[honey1616]

Girlie,,,,If me,,,,I would get one more viral test in one year and then be done with it.

[cuteus]

it is unusual to do a bx without a PCR to verify the presence of the virus, I hope your insurance does not balked at this.

[Just girlie]

What should I get retested.  The original Hepc reactive test or the viral load?  I have copies of all my blood work.  I do have ALT of 46 and AST of 37 so I am not quite sure what that means.  I think I need to go back to my internist. What else causes elevated ALT and AST?  I should get the biopsy results and liver scan sometime next week.  That should open my eyes up a bit!

[cuteus]

you should get tested again for the RNA PCR (VL), to make sure you have a viral load so low, it is undetectable by today's tests. No test goes down to zero. the lowest is the qualitative that goes to <2.  Make sure you had a very sensitive test done, both quantitative(counts the rna copies) and qualitative(tells you if the virus is present in your blood or not). after a couple of negatives, months apart, of very sensitive PCR's, you can consider yourself one of the lucky ones to clear on their own.

[layla]

I would get copies of both results and get retested. The test do occasionally have false positives. If the retest is undettectable I would celebrate and forget about it! LL

[jmjm530]

I'm sure everything is OK but I certainly understand your feeling of uncertainty.

If it were me, I'd get a copy of all my tests -- blood work, scans and biopsy reports -- and get a second opinion from a heptologist who treats large numbers of hepatitis c patients.

In the meanwhile, ask your doctor to re-test your viral load.
In your case, the best test would be a qualitative test with a sensitivity of <5 or <10.

What probably happenened is the first test was simply a screening test. Either you were positive and then cleared before your viral load test, or the screening test was a false positive. But you really won't know until you get re-tested and have all your results reviewed by someone knowledgeable.

[Debbiedoo]

I think we are in the same boat. 3 weeks ago I got a call from my doctors saying he needed to do some follow up blood work. 2 days later  he did more. He then told me I tested positive for hep c! I freaked out, (thats when I found this site), he ran the final testes to find out my viral loads. It seems My viral load is extremely low however I've had symptoms for a while now. AS advice by the wonderful people in this forum, I pushed for a biopsy, I also insisted on another test. I'm waited to get in with the GI 7-21.
Don't drive yourself crazy (like I did), but do some investigating about other symptoms...be aware of your body. I don't know about you, but I feel incredible blessed. I wish everyone on this site could get the same news. They are incredible people!
*We should find out about relapse chances...
deb

[Just girlie]

Dr. Just called me again last night.(I have never gotten a personal phone call from a Dr. and this one is a total jerk!  Made me cry a million times with his rude bedside mannor)

  I think he is affraid because he ordered all these tests before doing the viral load tests.  Ran both sensative and not so sensative one registered <50 the more sensative was <1.7  I asked him to mail me copies of the blood work liver scan and biopsy.  Biopsy showed no damage no firbrosis.  

Am trying to figure out what next as the medical bills come pouring in.  Should I request the test be re run.  I have read so many who have cleared and then relapsed with treatment.  I wonder if that is possible when I cleared myself.  They say 15-20% do clear themselves.  There isn't much about positive without viral load on the internet so am not quite sure what to do.  He seems to be saying well congratulations and good luck to you.  I feel like I should have this checked again sometime in the future.

[lilmommie123]

I had a positive hepatitis test but they did the viral load and it is undetectable what does that mean for me? Any answers would be great!!!!
Thanks

[R Glass]

It means you have Hep A,B, or C antibodies (you didn't state which one the test showed) . This means you have had Hep at one point in your life and have cleared it. Regardless of which it was, you will have the antibodies for the rest of your life. Most people clear Hep A&B on their on. Only a small percentage (I think it is 15%-20%) clear HepC on their on. If this is the case, you are one fortunate person. Having HCV antibodies does not mean you are immune to it.