Aa
i was tested <43 at 4 weeks
anyone know what the chances are that the vl test was a false positive??i wish i had just gotten another test right away but i waited till 8 weeks when my doc said there really isn't any reason to get a vl test...i'm sure your und....i did the test and was und....being cc 1a i understand there are no studies of folks like me stopping at 24 weeks that may have been und at 5 weeks.....so again i guess my question is what chances is there that i was really und at 4 weeks???thanks...billy
From the Quest Diagnostic website regarding their HCH TMA :
Interpretive Information
A “detected” result indicates the presence of HCV RNA and is consistent with active infection. Due to the sensitivity of this method (TMA), some false-positive results may occur, particularly in specimens that have been contaminated through aliquoting or some other procedure. A “not detected” result, on the other hand, is consistent with the absence of HCV RNA or with HCV RNA levels below the detectable limit of the assay. Following antiviral therapy, a repeatedly negative test indicates clearance of the virus and recovery from the infection.
The hepatologist I treated with Dr. Ira Jacobson when using TMA always
runs a standard PCR <43 from same blood draw with the TMA ( 2 tests)
simultaneously because they had too many false positives on the TMAs.
Cheers
b
Interpretive Information
A “detected” result indicates the presence of HCV RNA and is consistent with active infection. Due to the sensitivity of this method (TMA), some false-positive results may occur, particularly in specimens that have been contaminated through aliquoting or some other procedure. A “not detected” result, on the other hand, is consistent with the absence of HCV RNA or with HCV RNA levels below the detectable limit of the assay. Following antiviral therapy, a repeatedly negative test indicates clearance of the virus and recovery from the infection.
The hepatologist I treated with Dr. Ira Jacobson when using TMA always
runs a standard PCR <43 from same blood draw with the TMA ( 2 tests)
simultaneously because they had too many false positives on the TMAs.
Cheers
b
footnote: I was not giving advice, I would never advise anyone on what to do with their health I am NOT a provider - I was just saying what my experience was and is. I truley am sorry that you did not clear at week 4, when I got the first PCR saying it was still detected I was crushed. Hope you have a great day - Sunny
SunShineGirlie
Sep 27, 2011 .To: hrsepwrguy.my 4 week PCR came back as under 43 detected - they re did the test using Quest TMA and it came back under 5 undetected .
Sep 27, 2011 .To: hrsepwrguy.my 4 week PCR came back as under 43 detected - they re did the test using Quest TMA and it came back under 5 undetected .
Also I followed your advice on a false positive, not that it was bad advice but I ended up with 3 det test in 15 days so IMO it's not likely he had a false positive
He is in like wk 17 I think it might be a little to late to worry about wk 4 test
I had a false positive at 4 weeks, they said the testing other than the TMA was doing this alot, all over the country - They almost expected it, so they re did my test the next day TMA and it was NEGATIVE - The chances are good that could of been the case, did you talk to your Doc about it?
No need for confusion. My opinion was based on working dog being a CC and still tested UND early on. Since he was so close at 4 weeks I'm assuming he was UND shortly after 4 week test. I still think the CC & new drugs trumps a lot of factors from the "old school" protocol.
Like Afdhal , Shiffman and other leading hepatologist's said, HCV should be treated on a case by case basis. Not like the old days when treatments were all the same. Nothing is etched in stone with these new drugs. Treatment should be tailored to each individual.
Once again this is my "opinion" no one should take the word of people in an internet forum. Consult with their doctor on making the best decision.
Like Afdhal , Shiffman and other leading hepatologist's said, HCV should be treated on a case by case basis. Not like the old days when treatments were all the same. Nothing is etched in stone with these new drugs. Treatment should be tailored to each individual.
Once again this is my "opinion" no one should take the word of people in an internet forum. Consult with their doctor on making the best decision.
iits funny all my blood work has been great...my liver enzymes started over 200..now like 17...iron good..platelets 208...wbc 2.6...was 2.8 its just my hgb...maybe after the incivek is out of my body my hgb will be easier to keep up...been off it for 7 weeks..billy
You're getting some good advice. Yes, it's pure crazy misery. But every time I go to the transplant hospital, I am reminded of my 1st visit n the fear. My liver enzymes are freaking normal! Got to stay the course buddy.. Karen:)
" 24 weeks may or may not be enough but I would say the odds are in your favor that it is"
You have me totally confused here, sense you have many times maintained that with telaprevir one should be und in a couple days, and if not by 4 weeks one should stop treatment as it won't work. So why would you go against what the studies have shown which is a big difference in SVR rates if not eRVR by going from 24 to 48 weeks??? Maybe i'm missing something.
You have me totally confused here, sense you have many times maintained that with telaprevir one should be und in a couple days, and if not by 4 weeks one should stop treatment as it won't work. So why would you go against what the studies have shown which is a big difference in SVR rates if not eRVR by going from 24 to 48 weeks??? Maybe i'm missing something.
I don't think the test was a false positive. The chances of the test being wrong is very remote. Continue the course and see how you feel at 24 weeks. Just take one day at a time once you hit 24 weeks. 24 weeks may or may not be enough but I would say the odds are in your favor that it is. Good luck
Billy, the other question you don't want to be asking in the unfortunate case of relapse is, "I wonder if going the full 48 weeks as recommended would have led me to SVR"?
This is a very personal decision and you can only handle so much of trt, but Will offers some very good advice. Hang in as long as you can, but shoot for the 48.
This is a very personal decision and you can only handle so much of trt, but Will offers some very good advice. Hang in as long as you can, but shoot for the 48.
I agree with you 100% will I just don't think the chances he will do it are very likely at all.
billy..when the test you had states <43DET. there is low level viremia detected but cannot quantify it below that sensitivity..however it is considered DET. and and the chances of that being a false positive are extremely remote .
We all want to see you get out of this with an SVR and I have a slightly different take on it then the good folks above..
I must say IMO there is every reason to do the 48 weeks.
Because of sides, you have adjusted Riba .up, down and even stopped it if I remember correctly,You stopped Inci. a tad early and and all this on top of being Det. at week 4.(for which protocol for this calls for 48 weeks currently)
billy..treatment is very difficult for some folks .and it seems to be that way for you,however remember ,the most important goal ..well the only goal really ,is to eradicate the virus for good .so that you do not possibly progress to ESLD.
It is always a personal desicion on when to stop tx.(one hopfully made with a knowleagble doctor) and hopfully you SVR, and as per protocol doing 48 weeks will give you that best chance of that
Keep in mind that if that does not happen and you relaspe, then it may be up to 5 years before you could treat again..and even then... the resistance issues may not been all fully known.
If you decided to stop at 24 weeks and relapse .you must be prepared to never second guess your desicion while waiting to treat again.. that is" IF "you get to treat again depending on the stage of liver damage..
Good luck billy..whatever you decide...
Will
We all want to see you get out of this with an SVR and I have a slightly different take on it then the good folks above..
I must say IMO there is every reason to do the 48 weeks.
Because of sides, you have adjusted Riba .up, down and even stopped it if I remember correctly,You stopped Inci. a tad early and and all this on top of being Det. at week 4.(for which protocol for this calls for 48 weeks currently)
billy..treatment is very difficult for some folks .and it seems to be that way for you,however remember ,the most important goal ..well the only goal really ,is to eradicate the virus for good .so that you do not possibly progress to ESLD.
It is always a personal desicion on when to stop tx.(one hopfully made with a knowleagble doctor) and hopfully you SVR, and as per protocol doing 48 weeks will give you that best chance of that
Keep in mind that if that does not happen and you relaspe, then it may be up to 5 years before you could treat again..and even then... the resistance issues may not been all fully known.
If you decided to stop at 24 weeks and relapse .you must be prepared to never second guess your desicion while waiting to treat again.. that is" IF "you get to treat again depending on the stage of liver damage..
Good luck billy..whatever you decide...
Will
I agree with nygirl.. with the way this treatment has hammered you, I don't see how you will be able to go past 24 weeks. We can all only guess, but I just think you will have a good chance at SVR.
It is the more sensitive TMA test that is more prone to false positives.
The reason for false positives (which are very rare) is cross contamination
from another postive sample.If you were detected but <43 with the
standard PCR @wk4 it does not look much like it was a false positive.
The reason for false positives (which are very rare) is cross contamination
from another postive sample.If you were detected but <43 with the
standard PCR @wk4 it does not look much like it was a false positive.
Billy I dont think anyone here really expects that you will go past 24 anyway so its really a moot point but if you were detectible at week 4 you were detectible at week 4 - it's your decision and chance to take and no one in here has any way of knowing whether you will SVR or not (but it seems likely to me cause that's the way the cookie crumbles pal!)
I had 3 test in 15 days, first one at 27 days det 18-43, second one at 32 days det 7.1-43, the last one at 6 weeks det 7.1-43 it was hard to deal with so much so I refused another at 8 weeks and am waiting for 12 weeks, my reason being that it was protocol and 8 week test had no bearing on SVR stats or lenght of treatment, the chance you were possibly UND at 4 weeks who knows but IMO it is not likely.
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