Please HELP!

[Indian26]

Hi,

first of all, thank you to all the team and experts who are helping in answering everyone queries,

I have one of my very close friend  is diagonised with HEP C ANTIBODY REACTIVE cutoff rate 2.35 at the age of 18years old.
3 years back, in 2009 we went for routine checkup , where her Hep c reports showed reactive 3.5, we asked her to see the dr. but she was scared to, now in again when i pushed her for checkup in Oct 2011, because i was worried, the report again shows reactive 2.35 but it decreased from 3.5 to 2.5. is it a postitive sign? we also went to see the doctor, he suggested for liver LFT and also RNA. RNA result showed RNA not detected and the liver is also normal so now what should she do?? she wants her reports to show it unreactive?

Is there a way or any treatement that can cure her from the virus? or hepc reactive means she will get it and she has to do over 3-6 months liver treatment, i am confused. We are planning to apply for schloarship but shes afraid she will be rejected if her medicals show HEP C reactive. Please help!

[Indian26]

guys thank u so much for responces and the help!

my frd's also v thankful and relieved :)

[suezeeque]

Testing UNDETECTED on the second test means the virus was eliminated.  It's no longer there.

She can get A & B vaccine.

[Indian26]

Thank you so much :)

so once the virus is shown undetected, it will never become detected? because its gone forver but the anitobodies will stay postitive. Is that correct?

She checked for RNA in 2011 while her antibodies were shown reactive in 2009 and Dr suggested to get it tested at that time but she was too scared to get it tested so she delayed two years to get it checked but i guess it got cured automatically.

One more question, for Hep B vacciness, its suggested that if a person is HCV reactive, he shouldnt get hep B vaccinated, Is that correct? So can she get Hep B vaccinations or it may cause any harm?

[suezeeque]

The antibody test is just that - antibodies.  The second test is for the actual virus.  If your friend had the second test and the virus was UNDETECTED, that means there isn't any virus there.

A person may be infected with HCV and his/her body is able to eliminate the virus through immune response.  That only happens in +/- 20% of people.  Think of it in terms of the flu.  You're infected with it, you fight it and eventually eliminate it.  So you *had* the flu but you don't have it *forever*.

With HCV, that person will test positive for the antibodies forever, but does not have the virus any longer.  If the virus has been eliminated, there is nothing there to reactivate.

Testing positive for the antibodies means your friend was, at some point, infected with the virus.

Testing UNDETECTED on the second test means the virus was eliminated.  It's no longer there.

For the immigration medical question:  I know that different countries have different requirements.  However, I was told that my immigration medical would include HCV testing.  I was also told that if mine was positive, my sponsor would need a waiver to bring me to the U.S.

Since no waiver was required (this was in 2001), I assumed that I had been tested and was negative.

I have come to find out that HCV testing was NOT a requirement for my medical.  I went to the U.S. from Canada, though, and the testing may be different in other parts of the world.

[Indian26]

If once RNA report is undetected, will it show the same result or at some point of time it may show positive?

Guys i am really new to this, i am studying about it.
Thanks for the patience :)

[hrsepwrguy]

She doesn't have a genotype because she doesn't have an HCV infection. The RNA test is conclusive that she doesn't have HCV nor will she have in the future. Antibodies and HCV are 2 totally different things. Genotype is the strain of HCV, use google and search HCV genotype's it will explain it.

[Indian26]

I have been reading few posts .. where genotype is mentioned. what is genotype? Is a test suggested after RNA? do u think i should suggest my friend to find her genotype?

[Indian26]

@ suezeeque : It sure didnt include? because we are told we will have to pass all the medical tests including HEP B, C and HIV. well i really hope it doesnt .

Yeah the RNA test shows undetected but Dr also suggested she should keep Testing RNA every 6 months. I hope it frequently shows the same result. But yes one more question, HEP C reactive means the person can get infected, like is there a possibilty that she might get the infection in future, like say 10 years after today? If the anitobides are reactive, is there a possibility that she will get infected in future?

Guys, i really appreciate all your response. Thank you so muchh!

[hrsepwrguy]

"Also when will we know if its chronic Hep C?"

You already know it is not chronic due to the negative RNA result. The RNA test picks up on the virus directly so she doesn't actually have HCV, she is positive for the antibodies that the immune system produced and used to fight off the infection when she was originally exposed. The cut off rate for the antibodies test has nothing to do with whether she has an active HCV infection or not.

[suezeeque]

I thought that my U.S. immigration medical included HCV testing.  It did not.

[Indian26]

ya i hope so.

Also when will we know if its chronic Hep C? will the cut off rate tell us? or any other test?

what is the normal cut off rate ? is 2-3.5 normal or somethin to worry about?

[crigger]

Surely they would know that. Having antibody is a lot different for having chronic hep c.

[1oftheclub222]

But Hep C is not contagious if it's not active...Crigger's idea is a good one, there must be a standard list of things they check for...get all your information and facts first before you panick...you may be worrying for nothing :).

[Indian26]

Yes i m sure. We hav received the forms where all the tests are mentioned includin TB, HEP B,C and HIV.

[crigger]

Is Hep C something that they would check on routine basis for employment. I know here they check for TB for employment but that is because it is so contagious .  Is there some kind of employment commission you could call and ask are do you know for sure they check that.

[Indian26]

Yes, from India. We have applyed for Jobs in States and are awaiting for our applications. However once we receive job application, we will need to do all medical tests. Every possible test. and its clearly mentioned any contigious disease and the contract will be terminated.

Future will be ruined on basis of just antibodies reactive!

[Indian26]

Thats sad :( But i really hope when there is medical test, they dont judge on the basis of HEP C REACTIVE, there should be further tests.

I have been reading everyones post and i dont understand genotype, what is it? Is it the cut off rate?

For chronis Hep C, what is usally the cut off rate?! is Cut off rate 2-4 normal or somethin to be worried about?

[1oftheclub222]

Maybe you can ask a doctor for anote or something?  You are from India?  they really check your medical records when you want to get a job over there?  it's not like that in the U.S., your medical records are private, and they can't discriminate against things like hep C status, they just need to make sure you can physically do your job.

[hrsepwrguy]

"But there is no way or treatment or medicine to take that her reactive antibodies change non-reactive"

No there is not any way to change the results or rid the body of the antibodies, sad but true.

[Indian26]

for employement, all the medicals report are checked, all the tests are done to make sure evrything is negative. and i dun think everyone would understand that being hep c reative doesnt mean the person is not infected.
I am just too close to her, and we planned to apply scholarship or job in any of US firm but we cannot do any because of her medical issues.

But there is no way or treatment or medicine to take that her reactive antibodies change non-reactive, sorry i may sound stupid but i have no idea about it but i want to help her as much i can and this forum and u guys are just awesome! I appreciate the support everyone is givin each other :)

[pooh55811]

PS: Even if she had active chronic Hep C, which she does not, she could not be denied a scholarship or employment just because she had active Hep C.

All of us on the forum could go and apply for a job now and the employer would not know we had Hep C and we would not have to disclose it. Plus, if they found out, they can not fire us.

[pooh55811]

Having antibodies to Hepatitis C should not in any way affect obtaining a scholarship or future employment.

I do not think either the scholarship people or any employers have the right to access your friend's medical records. So if she does not tell them, they won't know. Even if they did know, they cannot deny a scholarship or employment because she has antibodies to Hep C. She is not infected. She cleared the infection. All she has are the antibodies. (She was one of the lucky ones who cleared Hep C on her own.)

(I am not certain about the military. Someone else may know that answer.)

[Indian26]

But will this be a problem for scholarship and other employement opportunities? Will it be a hurdle in any way? Because its considered as unfit for duty, right?
]
But yes maybe you are right, When we first went for check up in 2009, the cut off rate was 3.5/ but when we visited Dr again in 2011 it decreaed to 2.5/

[hrsepwrguy]

Approx 20% of all people who have been exposed to HCV clear the virus through their own immune system, they do not have an active HCV infection hence the negative RNA result but will always test positive for the antibodies just as someone who had chicken pox as a child will always show positive for chicken pox antibodies