What test should I request for 2 year old?

My son just turned two. Since I can be almost certain, that I contracted Hep before becoming pregnant, I want to get EVERY test necessary to ensure he has not contracted hepc. What tests should I request?? How often should these tests be done??

[painterlady13]

I would request a hep C test... Just to be sure  but keep in mind that many of us mothers have had children and raised them and the children never get it.  I probably got this when I was 19 or so and had 2 grown kids, both are hep c neg. Good Luck

[goldenrule]

Is there a test to see if he has even been exposed?Should they check his alt levels?/

[nygirl7]

I had hep when I gave birth to both of my kids and I never knew it.

When I found out I got them tested immediately. Promised God if they were OK I would do treatment.

They were both negative so I did 72 weeks of treatment.

After all, a promise is a promise.

:)

Get your child the blood test right away. Most likely it's negative and you will be able to have some peace.

[irishrayne]

I also had children when I found out. I had three. Two from when I was much younger so they were in their late teens, but my little guy wasn't quite 2 yet. The hep doc suggested I wait to have the youngest one checked since drawing the vials are harder to do on the real young ones. I would ask your own doc, tho. So far all my kids came back neg. Don't know about my little one yet.
Pray  :)

[Rastiss]

Your G.P. Dr. should know what tests to administer. They will probably start with the antibody test. If antibodies are detected, a qualitative PCR test would be next.  Apparently the PCR test is about $350 and the antibody test is much less and the insurance companies make the rules.  

If no antibodies are found, they haven't been exposed and you have no need to worry or do any further tests. If antibodies are found, and the PCR shows negative they were exposed and their antibodies fought it off or maybe they may have picked up the antibodies in the womb (I don't know if this is possible). If the PCR comes back positive, then you have decisions to make, but the odds are greatly stacked in your kids' favor.

[goldyn]

Just ask your doc to test them for hepc, most likely they will just do a antibody test, i had all 5 of mine roll up thier sleeves to do it and thank the Lord they were all negative...
But it can happen, thier are women on this forum who have children that contracted hepc through birth....but most of the children when young develope normaly from what i here...and with the new meds coming out hopefully a shorter time on meds to cure them...for your piece of mind i would go ahead and have them tested...

[GoofyDad]

I haven't tested my son - it's extremely unlikely that he has it, and if he did I wouldn't put him on these drugs anyway. So I don't sweat it.

That's just the way I choose to handle it - others obviously have other ways, and that's fine and dandy.

[jmjm530]

I'd probably handle it exactly the same.

[Cindy10]

I would not worry to much about it. I had a c-section and my daughter is 22 and tested negative. And thats with using my nail files, razors, clippers (not anymore) over the years.