carrier virus hep c

[Samnomi]

hi
i have heard a term "carrier hep c virus" people say that a person with negative  pcr can still spraed the virus to others, and in that carrier hep c virus that person cant harm himself but all the people around him.
is it true?

[Trish77]

It's the same in my country and I was told the same regarding my Hep B, because I have antibodies, even though my Hep B is not infectious.  I think it's simply extra careful safeguarding of the blood supply.  If they detect you have antibodies, then you COULD be positive for virus and they'd have to go an extra measure to get an expensive blood test to prove your blood is okay and there's potentially margin for error.  I figure they don't need our blood that badly so having antibodies is as far as they need to know to rule us out.  Not because it will turn into active infectious virus when it hits someone else's bloodstream.  That's my theory.

[Trish77]

Actually, I see your point.  (And no, didn't take your comments as an insult AND I'm far from always appropriate! :)

Virus is virus and is active.  No virus is, well...no virus.  I guess I use that as an adjective to virus but I can see where it might be taken as you can have inactive virus if you can have active virus and you can't.  You either have antibodies or virus and virus is ALWAYS active.  When I say it...again .. I just use the word as an adjective to virus to reinforce the status, not a differentiator.  Hm.  Interesting perspective.

[apache1]

Trish, this 'active virus' term when talking about HCV is something others here also use... not just you.
I have never liked the implications of 'active hcv virus' no matter who used it, since there is no such thing as 'inactive hcv virus'.

I was not trying to insult you, my apology if it came across like that. Your always appropriate Trish... well, almost, lol

It is just my opinion, I maybe wrong.

apche

[scruples]

On paper, Me too agree with this that if you are PCR negative then you cant spread it to thers as you cant transfer anything to thers which you dont have.

However, what the ground reality is, in asia and i have also heared that even in EU and USA ( pls correct me if i am wrong in case of Eu & USA), the blood of those persons having HCV antibody test positive (even the have gone through tx and are pcr negative)  is not given to healthy persons. My doctor also advised me , not to donate blood to others even after SVR. my qustion is why is this restriction. If one's PCR is negative and remains negtive for 6 months or for years then why is he restricted to donate blood.

I am not sure whether its true or not, but as per some docs in Pak, it is still assumed that HCV remains in your body in very low quantity (may be in blood or other than blood) and it is in dormant state due to strong antibodies and developed immune system whether naturally or due to meds, and its harmless for you but if your blood is transfered to thers, it can find a favorable environment and start its progression again.  

I dont claim its true or possible coz most of the doc in pak are not very much updated but if its wrong then why even SVR ppl restricted to donate blood.

[Trish77]

To clarify, when I use the term "active" Hep C virus I mean chronic Hep C as opposed to Hep C antibodies which are not the same as "active" virus to me.  If HCV antibodies are detected they are NOT active, meaning NOT doing damage and NOT contagious but HCV antibodies are still detected in the blood.  The reason why a PCR is required.  To define whether one has HCV antibodies or "active" virus.  

Perhaps someone else can chime in with an opinion and I'll change my terminology if it's inappropriate and not the commonly used descriptors.

Trish

[Bulldoggergal]

Can't harm himself but can the people around him?  Interesting thought...in a weird sort of way....  Doesn't anyone worry about real threats that can be passed around much easier...like HIV/AIDS?  

So many to educate, so little time...

[apache1]

Samnomi, as others have said... Not true.

Not trying to be a terminology stickler, but using the terms active virus,  imo is not correct. It implies there might be the possibility of 'not active virus', and might just confuse the matter more.

With HCV... no such thing as 'active virus' or 'not active virus'

HCV, is not like hep b, hcb can be not active. HCB can be a 'real' occult virus.

If HCV is detected, it is ALWAYS active...

apache  

[Trish77]

Just to make sure it sinks in for you, I want to repeat what the others have said.  If your PCR says you have no active virus then NO, you cannot infect anyone because you have NOTHING to infect them with. Antibodies mean you had Hep C at one time and your body fought it off.  Antibodies are not infectious.  Only active virus detected on a PCR is.

[jmjm530]

Unlike children who can be carriers of stress but not affected by it, with HCV only if you have it can you pass it.
============
Didn't Dr.confucius Spock write about this very issue?

But seriously Samoni, if you test negative for the virus you cannot spread it to others even if you carry the antibodies.

[FlGuy]

Unlike children who can be carriers of stress but not affected by it, with HCV only if you have it can you pass it.

[nygirl7]

CORRECT!  But your PCR has to be negative that is the point.

[Trinity4]

No Sam.  If RNA PCR is negative there is no virus in the body to spread.  Even if you test positive for antibodies and PCR RNA shows negative for virus, you can't infect someone. The only way you can transmit the hepc virus is if it is present in your blood.  

I've seen discussion in the past about occult virus and possible transmission after cure but the commonality among all hepatologists is if there is no virus present you can't infect anyone.