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WHAT IS A QUANTITIVE SOMETHING TEST
HI EVERYONE,
JUST GOT HOME FROM THE DR. AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO A QUANTITIVE ? TEST. SHE SAID THIS IS USUALLY THE TEST THEY DO AT THE END OF TREATMENT. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE ASKED MORE ABOUT THE TEST BUT I DIDN'T.
HERE IS MY STORY; I'LL MAKE IT SHORT.
I'M GENO 1A / CIRRHOSIS- STAGE 4 GRADE 4, JUST FINISHED 20 WKS OF 48 I ALSO DO 2 SHOTS OF NEUPROGEN A WK DUE TO VERY LOW WBC'S / ANC'S
NOW THEY ARE THINKING OF STARTING ME ON PROCRIT DUE TO HGB- 9.3 / PLATLETS ARE 52
MY ALT/AST ARE STILL VERY ELEVATED- 203/178
SO THEY ARE GOING TO TO THIS TEST TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S WORTH PUTTING ME THROUGH ALL THIS ****!
SO CAN ANYONE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS TEST FOR ME?...........CINDY
JUST GOT HOME FROM THE DR. AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO A QUANTITIVE ? TEST. SHE SAID THIS IS USUALLY THE TEST THEY DO AT THE END OF TREATMENT. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE ASKED MORE ABOUT THE TEST BUT I DIDN'T.
HERE IS MY STORY; I'LL MAKE IT SHORT.
I'M GENO 1A / CIRRHOSIS- STAGE 4 GRADE 4, JUST FINISHED 20 WKS OF 48 I ALSO DO 2 SHOTS OF NEUPROGEN A WK DUE TO VERY LOW WBC'S / ANC'S
NOW THEY ARE THINKING OF STARTING ME ON PROCRIT DUE TO HGB- 9.3 / PLATLETS ARE 52
MY ALT/AST ARE STILL VERY ELEVATED- 203/178
SO THEY ARE GOING TO TO THIS TEST TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S WORTH PUTTING ME THROUGH ALL THIS ****!
SO CAN ANYONE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS TEST FOR ME?...........CINDY
Perhaps the test they want to do is more sensitive than the one done at 12 weeks. Since the 12 weeker only went down to 615 maybe the doc wants one that goes to even a lower count; like 50 or 10 or less.
Let me try and simplify things.
(1) A quantitative test is the same as a viral load test.
(2) You should have already have had a quantiatitve (viral load) test just prior to treatment, at week 12 of treatment and hopefully at week 4 as well.
(3) Ask your medical team what the results of your week 12 viral load test were and for the results of any other viral load tests they may have given you. THEN ASK FOR YOUR OWN COPIES OF ALL THE TESTS SO FAR INCLUDING YOUR PRE-TREATMENT VIRAL LOAD TEST.
(4) Are you currently seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist) or a gastroenterologist? As a stage 4, you really should be under the care and supervision of a hepatologist who can usually be found at your larger, teaching hospitals. At a minium, you might consider a one-time consult to review your entire case including treatment approach.
(5) As stated, your enzymes are high but a history of your viral load tests so far will help put this in perspective.
- Jim
(1) A quantitative test is the same as a viral load test.
(2) You should have already have had a quantiatitve (viral load) test just prior to treatment, at week 12 of treatment and hopefully at week 4 as well.
(3) Ask your medical team what the results of your week 12 viral load test were and for the results of any other viral load tests they may have given you. THEN ASK FOR YOUR OWN COPIES OF ALL THE TESTS SO FAR INCLUDING YOUR PRE-TREATMENT VIRAL LOAD TEST.
(4) Are you currently seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist) or a gastroenterologist? As a stage 4, you really should be under the care and supervision of a hepatologist who can usually be found at your larger, teaching hospitals. At a minium, you might consider a one-time consult to review your entire case including treatment approach.
(5) As stated, your enzymes are high but a history of your viral load tests so far will help put this in perspective.
- Jim
HCV RNA PCR QUANT is exactly what Bill said. It measures the amount of virus in the blood. There are different types by different companies but they all do the same thing.
If by chance your doctor said HCV RNA PCR QUAL (Qualitative) that test is used to determine if the active Hepc virus is present in your blood,
Call you doctor or nurse and make them explain again exactly what they are doing. I would be very concerned at this point because of your elevated liver enzymes after 20 wks of treatment. IMO, if you have not cleared the virus by now your chances of SVR are greatly diminished. Your enzymes are still very high and you're looking extending to 72 wks of treatment for any reasonable chance of SVR.
Good Luck
Trinity
If by chance your doctor said HCV RNA PCR QUAL (Qualitative) that test is used to determine if the active Hepc virus is present in your blood,
Call you doctor or nurse and make them explain again exactly what they are doing. I would be very concerned at this point because of your elevated liver enzymes after 20 wks of treatment. IMO, if you have not cleared the virus by now your chances of SVR are greatly diminished. Your enzymes are still very high and you're looking extending to 72 wks of treatment for any reasonable chance of SVR.
Good Luck
Trinity
HI BILL,
MY DR. SAID THIS WAS DIFFERENT FROM A VIRAL LOAD TEST.
I HAD A VL TEST DONE AT 12 WKS OF TX. SHE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE THE TX IS WORKING.
I HAVE READ ABOUT SOOOO MANY PEOPLE WHO'S VL WAS IN THE MILLIONS WHEN THEY STARTED TX AND WAS UND AFTER JUST WKS OF BEING ON TX.
MY VL WAS ONLY AT 917 WHEN I STARTED AND AFTER 12 WKS THE VL TEST THEY DID SHOWED THAT IT HAS DROPPED TO UNDER 615 BUT DIDN'T SAY HOW FAR UNDER IT WAS. SO THE DR. SAID THE TX WAS WORKING.
BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANT TO DO THIS QUANT. TEST.
SO I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THIS TEST IS EXACTLY......CINDY
MY DR. SAID THIS WAS DIFFERENT FROM A VIRAL LOAD TEST.
I HAD A VL TEST DONE AT 12 WKS OF TX. SHE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE THE TX IS WORKING.
I HAVE READ ABOUT SOOOO MANY PEOPLE WHO'S VL WAS IN THE MILLIONS WHEN THEY STARTED TX AND WAS UND AFTER JUST WKS OF BEING ON TX.
MY VL WAS ONLY AT 917 WHEN I STARTED AND AFTER 12 WKS THE VL TEST THEY DID SHOWED THAT IT HAS DROPPED TO UNDER 615 BUT DIDN'T SAY HOW FAR UNDER IT WAS. SO THE DR. SAID THE TX WAS WORKING.
BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANT TO DO THIS QUANT. TEST.
SO I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THIS TEST IS EXACTLY......CINDY
Generally, when the term ‘quantitative’ is used in the context of HCV, it is referring to an HCV RNA test; this is a test that checks for active virus. This is also known as a viral load test. The term ‘quantitative’ is used as opposed to a ‘qualitative’ when an actual number is needed, rather than just a yes/no result.
The qualitative test could be run in your case to gauge the efficacy of treatment; in your case, with liver enzymes still significantly elevated at week 20, this is a very good idea. Hopefully, you will be undetectable for virus at this point; if not, you will probably be considered a non/null responder, and will most likely be removed from this treatment effort.
I wish you well with your results—
Bill
The qualitative test could be run in your case to gauge the efficacy of treatment; in your case, with liver enzymes still significantly elevated at week 20, this is a very good idea. Hopefully, you will be undetectable for virus at this point; if not, you will probably be considered a non/null responder, and will most likely be removed from this treatment effort.
I wish you well with your results—
Bill
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