Where did she contract it?

My grandmother received a letter from the health department stating that she tested positive for Hepatitis C antibodies. She was in the hospital due to high blood glucose. She is 85 years old and has had numerous tests and procedures. She had a blood transfusion in October of last year. I know that there is a low probability of contracting Hepatitis C from blood transfusions. How often is Hepatitis C tested for? Do they test for it during routine blood work, hospital stays, prior to surgery, etc.? Is it possible that she has had Hepatitis C for a long time and was just never tested for it?

My Mom has started giving her insulin shots. Is she at high risk of contracting the disease? Do they sell gloves that protect you from accidental needle sticks?

Thank you

[Bill1954]

Hi there,

It’s quite possible your grandmother acquired Hep C antibodies from receiving blood or blood products when she was young; the blood banks didn’t remove it from the blood supply until 1990 or so.

She should ask for confirmation testing; this is called ‘HCV RNA by PCR’ test; she might have resolved the virus by way of her own immune response.

Yes, if someone at home is giving her shots it’s possible to contract the virus from needle stick, *if* she carries the active virus; antibodies only are not contagious.  Her caregiver should be careful with the injections, and place the used needles in a sharps container, and dispose of properly, until her HCV status is determined. Actually, universal precautions should be taken, regardless.

Routine testing for Hep C (HCV) isn’t done on a regular basis; typically, other tests such as elevated liver function tests will clue the doctor to order HCV antibody tests. At eighty five years old, it’s unlikely her doctor will recommend treatment for the disease; therapy can be taxing, even for younger patients. She should discuss her results with her primary care doctor for further management.

Good luck—

Bill

[Rockerforlife]

Fish oil purity
Purity of fish oil is also an important issue which one must pay attention to. Fish oil is obtained from fresh water, farm, ocean, deep sea and shallow sea fish. All these fish can be contaminated with toxic compounds such as mercury, arsenic, lead, forms of calcium, furans, dioxins, PCBs, and methyl mercury, and may affect the human body. Therefore, the fish oil should be pure. Many companies also sell ultra refined fish oil or distilled fish oil, but you should always check if the standards have been followed.

[Rockerforlife]

OPPS...sorry...i meant to post this above post above fish in the social fourm.

[nygirl7]

Goldfish crackers are the only way to go!

As Bill said she might not even have the disease just the antibodies.  At 85 I really wouldn't worry about it too much, hepc is a very slowly progressing disease in most cases and the doctors tell us most people will die of something else first.  I hope she's ok and just can go on and live a fully functional healthy long life and not worry about it at all.

Good luck.

[averagegeek]

I had no idea you could have antibodies and not the virus. How can the DRS tell the difference? My GI dr says i have a titer of 561, no liver infalmmation, normal alt/ast, and RNA type undetectable. Stage 2 liver fibrosis via BX, with peri-portal fibrosis (whatever that means). The GI, and PCP say I'm untreatable due to the Hep being integrated into my body/ immune system has stopped (or, i ask, never began?) fighting it.

In short, I'd like to know if I might be antibody positive, and virus negative. Like I said, this is the first I've ever heard of such a thing.