follow up labs

I'm postive for hep c antibody. A HEP C VIRAL RNA QUAL PCR was done in 3/06 and result is non detected. Then in 9/06 a HEP  C RNA TMA QUAL was done which result was non detected. Last test which  was done on 1/08 which was the HCV QUANT RNA, BDNA/TMA which result was normal. I  didn't go  under treatment. I was just curious what labs should be done routinely to make sure that everything is normal.

[merryBe]

either you had the virus but cleared it on your own as 15-20% of people do...

or your original antibody test was a false positive, which does happen.

I'd continue to get rechecked with the tests you've been having, say once a year for a couple years...but if you remain undetected all that while then I'd go out five years.

It's totally possible for there to be machine/human error or slide contamination.
If they could not detect any RNA when your antibody test was positive, the chances are you don't and probably never did have the virus. If there are antibodies there should be detectable RNA.

This answer was given by the doctor who actually invented the NGI_PCR machines that detect the virus on this forum, so I'm assuming he knows of what he speaks.

mb

[cjm22]

thank you!