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6708370 tn?1471490210

What does "undetected"mean?

My viral load came back as less than 20 IU/mL of Hepatitis C virus detected

That's what it was last time as well

This comes with a note from my doc saying "Congratulations! You are undetected." Perhaps I am just too tired to understand the online explanation(s)

I thought undetected was undetected?
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317787 tn?1473358451
Hi I hope this helps you, I found it in Lucinda's blog, I thought it was really helpful.  I hope it will help you as well.  Dee

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/HCV-UND---SVR-NEW-INFO/show/2527772
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317787 tn?1473358451
Hang in there, praying for you, Dee
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Avatar universal
Hahaha. How many different ways can we say the same thing??
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Avatar universal
Oops!  I put <12 and it should have been <15.  Thanks for the correct information!

Pat
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2059648 tn?1439766665
And there is the correct answer.

Thanks hrsepower!
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1747881 tn?1546175878
Question 2. What do these test results mean: “<15 Detected” or “<15 Not Detected”?

A “<15 Detected” means the assay was able to detect HCV RNA but was not able to accurately quantitate the viral load. A “<15 Not Detected” means the assay did not detect HCV RNA (Target Not Detected).This test is performed using the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® Taqman® HCV Test v2.0. The lowest viral load this assay can accurately quantify is 15 IU/mL, but the limit of detection is 10-13 IU/mL. Therefore, we can qualitatively report detection even if the viral load is under 15 IU/mL.

http://education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ22v1
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Avatar universal
Don't wish to be disagreeable, but "undetected" means just that -- below the cutoff amount set as the lower limit AND not able to detect any virusus (?virii?).

SVR is what happens when one has been 'Undetected' for 12 weeks AFTER treatment is finished, or 24 weeks, if that is the protocol for the med combination one is treated with.  That then becomes SVR12 or SVR24.

Example, many on here have been Undetected since Week 4 of treatment.  Some of us were measured as <12IU/ml Detected at 3 or 4 weeks but did not attain <12IU/ml until weeks 7 or 8.

I used <12 in the example as the test I was given used that.  Some use the <20 mentioned above and some, maybe last year?, used <42.

Hope this helps.
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2059648 tn?1439766665
I don't think you can claim totally undetected till you have obtained SVR.
I remember a statement on all my tests during treatment about being "detected".......even when I was undetected.   It was very confusing.
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6708370 tn?1471490210
yes

That was the exact wording, Pooh.  Although the VL results come to me as a message from my doc. Because, even though I have access to all the other lab results, the VL is "top secret"

I guess I could ask for a printout of the test. I reviewed last year's results when I was treating with S/O

The tests said:

HCV VIRAL LOAD NOT DETECTED

So, that is why I was confused

But I think I am not going to stress about it. My labs look great and I have less than a month of treatment to go

Plus, my undetected status from previous treatment didn't last long in the real world. Back to a mil 4 weeks EOT

This is an exciting time for those who relapsed on prior non-interferon treatments as our results are just beginning to come in

Good luck to everyone in that boat that this is our time to beat this f****** virus
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
My viral load came back as .....

"less than 20 IU/mL of Hepatitis C virus detected "
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Was that the exact wording?

Depending on the exact wording, that result usually means that the virus was detected but the amount of virus was under the limit of quantification (cannot be counted).

Detected does not mean Undetected. Detected means Detected.
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Avatar universal
It means the virus can still be seen (detected) but in such a small amount it cannot be counted (quantified). Bet the next test will be totally undetected.
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6708370 tn?1471490210
OK then

Thank you 2!!!!

only 27 days left of treatment and then I'm on to the waiting game

But at least I can break up with Riba. I gave him a shot but I really feel that we don't have that much in common and he turned out to be very self-centered

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2059648 tn?1439766665
Means the tested HCV is below the limit of detection.   The limit being 20IU/mL.    Congratulations!  
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2059648 tn?1439766665
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Avatar universal
In my book UND means UND.  
Congragulations my friend!
You may want to stop 2nd guessing your Hep C status.
Looks like smooth sailing and the journey is almost over.
.....Kim
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6708370 tn?1471490210
Or, perhaps the answer is more nuanced and depends on the type of VL test used?

LLOQ = "Lower Limit Of Quantification"
LLOD = "Lower Limit Of Detection"
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