Question about viral load result on 8th week of tx

Hi,

I recently came across the explanation of viral load test result during tx and it rose huge question in my case. On my 8th week of tx I was tested twice (one was done by my GI and another by my therapist). I didn't know that my therapist ordered HCV VL as well, he'd planned only to run the usual panel (this blood test was taking 4 days before GI's and done in different lab).

I've got both copies of results.

On GI test result it says:

NCV QuantaSure Plus (Serial)

Hep.C quantitation   20                 IU/ml
HCV log10              1.301   log10  IU/ml

Please note:

This test ,measures HCV RNA in International Units (IU) per ML using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology. It quantitates HCV RNA from 10 to 100,000,000 IU/ml.

The second test result (taken 4 days before and took more than 10 days to get a result) was ordered by my Therapist:
                                        Result:          Reference:
RF, quant.                         11.0              <14IU/ml
Hep.C, RNA,bDNA,QNT.     <3200           <3200 copies/ml
Hep.C, RNA,bDNA,QNT.     <615             <615 IU/ml
HCV,RNA                         NOT DETECTED (<615 IU/ml)

Hep.C RNA/ Viral Load, bDNA performed using Bayer bDNA Assay.

So, as you see 1st test shows that I still have 20,000 units and 2nd test shows that virus is UND (which is great news and I'm loving it, except that it is not clear to me whats going on...)

How can 2 test be so different?

My VL before treatment was (+/- around) 900,000 units based on PCR test.

Any answers?

Thanks in advance.

[Rockerforlife]

Nothn strange there...the virus can make wild swings.up and down.

[Shanaenae]

All I know is that i have never seen or heard of the 1st test but the 2nd test the HCV RNA Quant bDNA is the test i get every time from Bayer corporation. First i got the < 615, now i get the HCV RNA PCR Quant that goes < 50 tested by Quest Diagnostics. Just a more accurate test. I hear now that have one that goes to < 5. To me, the first test is showing 1.3 log, which is less than the 615 (2.79 log), which is why your < 615 test is still showing Negative. Both test seem correct, you are actually under the 615 IU/ml so it is showing UND, but still at 20 IU/ml. WOW, interesting.  I would recommend taking the    < 5 test if there is a new one out there. I wonder what that means, if someone were to stay  5 are they still considered to have Hep C. Like myself, i have only taken the < 50 test because that is the only one that has been avaliable, so what if this entire time i have had like a 20 IU/ml and not known it, am i still contagious????

[Virgo911]

Hmm,

it really looks strange.

Strange thing: first my GI called me and told me that I still have virus, although it went done, but not the way he wanted to see it and told me that it's now 20,000. As I understood he referred to this line of test result:

Hep.C quantitation   20                 IU/ml

I did received a copy of result from LabCorp (that is where I usually do my blood tests) a few weeks later and I didn't paid much attention to it until after I saw the explanation of viral load test result here on the Forum (thanks a lot, by the way).

The second test, I got a copy a from Therapist a few weeks ago, as I received a call from office that everything was fine. I decided to get a copy for myself, just in case. I didn't even saw that:

HCV,RNA                         NOT DETECTED (<615 IU/ml)

I compared results only today. I will see my GI Wednesday and will bring it to his attention. Because, 20,000 (as I was told and though myself by looking at number "20") and 20 IS a big difference!!!! He told me that I'm responding, but slowly.

I used Quest Diagnostic until my insurance dropped this company. And I heard that Polymerase Chain Reaction technology (PCR) is more accurate than Bayer bDNA Assay.