eppstein barre false positive for hep c?

[runsincircles]

I recently tested positive for hcv antibody and am waiting for my quantitative test results.  My dr said it's probably a false positive due to eppstein barre.  I asked if that meant the test misidentified the eb as hcv?  She said no I have the hcv antibodies.  I guess I'm trying to understand how a it could be false pos "due to ebv"  Are they just saying that?  I've already accepted that I probably have hcv and am looking for info.  I guess I also wanna know if my dr is geing straight with me.

[pooh55811]

I think the most important thing is to be as hinest and forthcoming as possible.

I don't think childhood measles, mumps, chickenpox matter. Most of us have had them, at least those of us who are older.

However, the other conditions you mentioned should definitely be disclosed. Any current conditions should be disclosed. Any previous abnormal lab work should be disclosed. (So Epstein Barre, seizures, bipolar disorder should all be disclosed along with anything else you have not mentioned.) Often treatment can proceed but the doc needs to know about current and previous medical problems because sometimes adjustments need to be made.

The bipolar disorder won't disqualify you unless it is not controlled. There are plenty of us treating who have histories of either unipolar or bipolar disorder. The docs will probably want you to be evaluated by a psychiatrist (unless you are already being treated by one) and also they will want you on meds for the disorder while treating (at least I am pretty sure they will). Interferon can cause depression and mood disorders so that needs to be under control before treatment starts. Again, many of us are on antidepressants and we are doing fine on treatment.

Just be as honest and forthcoming as possible. Here's wishing you the best.

[nygirl7]

I know things are gonna go fast and I wanna be prepared since I have bad reactions to alot of things"

Actually in most cases things seem to go SLOW, so SLOWLY.  Once you get used to the idea that you are going to treat (if you should do so) you sort of get chomping at the bit but then it's 'take this test' 'take that test' oh 'i forgot to get you this test'.........

So just take it easy and remember if you do decide/need to treat a month or two either way isn't going to make any difference. (I got put off for a month cause the doc forgot the opthamologist appointment and thought I'd go crazy on him...but the guys in here were right - it didn't matter treatment time got here eventually and then it seems to take forever to get out of it, but you do...it just gets hard to remember).

While on treatment you will always be waiting on something, it does teach us a good lesson of patience I'll tell you that.

Good luck!

[runsincircles]

My dr is gonna call the lab and see if they have enough blood left to do genotyping.  How long does that take?

I know things are gonna go fast and I wanna be prepared since I have bad reactions to alot of things.  I'm afraid they're gonna decide I'm not a good candidate for tx, and I don't know what info is important.  I had chicken pox twice.  I was suspected to have german measles as a kid even though I was vaccinated and I have a current(possibly 2 strains) eppstein barr infection. My ANA, TSH, and SED rate are all normal, but obviously my immune system has issues.  Auto immune disorders also run in my family.  I also have bipolar disorders and have had unexplained seizures in the past year.  I know some of these things I have to tell them, but I have a young daughter and I am terrified they are gonna deny tx.  What's important and what is ok to leave out?

Thanks for everybody's support so far.

[runsincircles]

Thanks Will.

Correction vl was 5,570,000.  Should've looked first.

I don't have any of the usual risk factors and think I may have contracted it as a child.  I was very poor and ran around barefoot all the time. I used to play in abandoned houses and figure I stepped on a needle at some point.

I have had many unexplained symptoms for a very long time, especially fatigue and crazy itching.  My dr has been trying to figure it out and says this may be the answer we're looking for.  I'm anxious to get a biopsy done to determine if the all the meds I've been on in the past 10 years has caused my liver to get worse.

[willbb]

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis of HCV being confirmedYou are doing the right thing now and seeing a specialist.
Possibly you have been reading here that therapy is approx. 70 -80% successful,if you and the specialist feel that treatment would be warranted at this time.

They normally would now run genotyping to ascertain what type you have and then possibly a biopsy to diagnose the amount of liver damage you may or may not have.

When you have the results of this further testing ,discussion can take place with the specialist about planning treatment.

For the most part HCV takes many years and often decades to do any significant damage to the liver ,so there is never any panic upon being diagnosed to act immediately.

Also ,there are many new drugs be tested in trials currently and the future of HCV treatment looks bright.

Best to you..

Will

[runsincircles]

Finally got my results. It's positive with a viral load of 5,547,000.  I'll be going to a gastro and I'm just waiting for them to call now.  

[runsincircles]

I've read about the replication of hcv due to ebv.  The lab report just states that the test was "reactive", I don't know how to find out what test they used or what the numbers were.  I do know that I have the same report the dr got and they couldn't tell me more.  I'm now wondering if the quantitative comes back undetected should I request a qualitative in case the numbers are too low to detect?  I'll know the result of the quantitative by monday at the latest.  I'm just anxious to know for sure so I can start planning my next move.

[willbb]

Do you happen to know your s/co (signal to cut -off ratio) on your HCV antibodies test?

If it is a low positive reactive (<3) then the chances of it being a "false positive are much greater.

The initial "antibodies test" is very sensitive for "any " antibody and can sometimes cross-react with antibodies to other conditions....hence a false positive for HCV sometimes.

The 'guantitative test will  tell definitively

Good luck...
Will

[suezeeque]

I've read studies suggesting that EBV 'helps' HCV replication.  This doesn't sound like anything that would cause a 'false positive' on an antibody test, though.  You'd have to have HCV present for EBV to 'help' its replication.

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2011/03/are_the_epstein.html

[runsincircles]

Thanks Hector   the lack of replies tells me nobody else has heard of this either.  It was actually the nurse that told me that and I think she's supposed to tell me it could be false positive and blamed it on the ebv cause it was convenient.  I don't think the dr herself would've told me that cause she knows I'm gonna find everything I can on the subject.  

[HectorSF]

Never heard of such a thing. Is this a primary care doctor? They have no expertise in hepatitis C. You should be seeing a gastroenterologist if you believe you have hepatitis C.

First wait for your HCV quantitative test results. That will give you the answer whether you are chronically infected or not.

Hector