How did I get Hepatitis C Antibodies?

[vanessa617]

One day I donated blood (I'm 28 and I've donated blood over a dozen times in my life), and I got a call from the blood donor center stating I have Hep C Antibodies and my blood would no longer be accepted. After this news I went straight to my regular doctor with a letter from the center. After numerous blood draws, my doctor said I don't have the Hep C Virus, although I definitely have the Hep C antibodies. He said it's "dormant" and that I'm "healthy" but that I can no longer donate my blood or my organs.

I'm so confused because this means I would have within the past year come into contact with Hepatitis C and my body fought it off so now I'm a "Carrier" with just the antibodies.

How could I have contacted Hep C at any point???? I have Never shot up drugs, I have never had a tattoo, I have sex only with my boyfriend (he's been tested twice in the past year and he's 100% clear), and I have never had a blood transfusion.
I'm so confused, I don't understand, does anyone have any information? Please, and thank you.

P.S. The only thing I could possibly think is that I got it in a bar, because I got little cuts on my hands often, but my doctor said this is unlikely.

[Dee1956]

Hi I am glad you are ok. You could search to find the ways it can be transmitted, many of the public do not know

Using someones toothbrush, razor or finger nail clips (the blood can be microscopic)
Snorting anything after another person (again blood microscopic)

There are other ways, you might want to do a search for transmission of HCV
Good luck to you
D

[willbb]

If your physician followed up with an HCV/RNA PCR blood test and this showed neg ,,you do not have HCV.

The lab result from you giving blood may very well have been a "false positive" or as the above member mentioned you may have at some time  contracted the virus and your immune system cleared it (happens approx 25% of the time)

Having only the antibodies ,you are not contagious and no other action needs to be taken.

Your doctor stated:
He said it's "dormant" and that I'm "healthy" but that I can no longer donate my blood or my organs
---------------------------------
If there was no virus 'detectable" by the PCR .there is no virus to be "dormant  as it can not become active virus).

Also your doctor is incorrect telling you you can not donate your organs.
You can,however  with HCV antibodies you can not donate blood, even though you are not contagious in any way.

Possibly have another 'antibodies test to ascertain whether or not the first one was a 'false positive" but again either way you do not have HCV

Best...
Will

[dontworry_behappy1]

Welcome to the forum and understand your not alone.  Many people get Hepatitis C and don't know how they got it.  You are one of the lucky ones who only have the Hep C antibodies and cleared on your own.  You don't have Hepatitis C and you can't give it to someone else.  I know of someone who is 25 years old and just found out they have the hepatitis C antibodies.
This person doesn't and has never done any kind of drugs.  They are very heathy active professional and shock they have hepatitis C antibodies.  You may never know how you got the antibodies.  Take the time to educate yourself about hepatitis C.  Don't use razors, tooth brushes or someones
nail clippers.  Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood.  These personal items could be contaminated by someone's blood.  Keep this items for your own personal use only.

Congrats on not having Hepatitis C.