RNA negative

Hello,
Several weeks ago my ob/gyn tested me for STD's and my test results showed that I was positive for Hepatitis C antibodies. I am not someone who would be at risk for Hepatitis C so this result was very surprising but I do understand that it could happen to anyone. My ob/gyn has not been very helpful in the process and has made sure to tell me several times that she has never seen a positive test result (which I find hard to believe considering we live in Los Angeles). Apparently she tested my blood sample twice and each time the result was a ratio of 1.5, which I believe is rather low. I then had a Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA, Quant, with reflex to Genotyping test and learned from the ob/gyn that the results came back as "negative". I asked her if this meant that I had cleared the virus on my own and she said yes but that was all the information I could get out of her. I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in several weeks but am feeling anxious and confused and not sure if I understand what the negative diagnosis on the RNA test truly means.

Thanks for reading,
Betty

[Trinity4]

Hi Betty,

Negative RNA means no active HCV virus. Sometimes antibody test results will show a false postive.  I'm not sure what the cut off ratio is on an antibody test but my recollection is .8 or something like that.  If indeed you did contract HCV your own immune system fought the virus off which is why the RNA is negative.  You will always test postive for antibodies but they are harmless and pose no threat to your health nor can you transmit the virus because there is no virus to transmit.  You won't be able to donate blood because donation centers run HCV antibody tests on all blood collections and automatically reject any blood when results are postitive due to the cost factor of further testing for HCV by RNA PCR.

HCV RNA by PCR is a very accurate test so no need to be anxious.  Whether the test was a false positive or you cleared the virus on your own you no longer have reason to be concerned.  Follow up by a gastro is probably a good idea as it reassure all is well.

Trinity

[betty2003]

Thank you, Trinity!

[Trish77]

I hope you realize that Hep C is not an STD.  It's a blood to bloodstream transmitted disease.  Furthermore:

"I am not someone who would be at risk for Hepatitis C so this result was very surprising but I do understand that it could happen to anyone. "

I'm not sure what you mean by you not being someone who would be at risk for Hep C.  Antibodies will show up for the rest of your life once exposed.  That means you could have contracted it from a blood transfusion or medical procedure during those years when they were less than diligent or knowledgeable about such things.  You could have contracted it from a dentist's office in the same way.  You could have contracted it in a beauty salon if they were also less than knowledgeable or diligent. Do you do any of these things?  Those are only some of the ways you might have been exposed.  The fact is, while some of us may have known risk factors, in a number of cases it's rather unknown what the origin is.

[Bill1954]

You should be fine, and no further actions should be required on your part. For reference, here are tables that offer optimal signal to cut-off ratios for HCV testing:

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/LabTesting.htm

Big congratulations—

Bill