puzzled

i just read a topic on life insurance testing for hcv.this just really made me wonder...i gave blood samples for life insurance through new york life 4 years ago.i was given a clean bill of health and given a policy.now im wondering if the hep c came from my previous life in the late 70's or from a recent tattoo i obtained 1 year ago.

[EyesofBlue55]

If you were given a "clean bill of health"then they maybe didnt test for that or you have recently acquired the disease.Either way you are lucky and I wouldnt worry or bring it up to anybody.Could be from the tattoo?Did they use new ink and needles? Or from medical or dental work within the last 4 years.cindy

[tashka]

If they tested you 4 years ago, hepatitis C was definitely included in this testing. Your exposure was in these past 4 years. So looks like you got hepatitis C very recently. This is good, because more recent disease is easier to treat and eradicate.

[FlGuy]

It depends on the labs that were completed at the time. If it was a liver function test you could have had normal range results and still have had hcv.  I doubt they would have done PCR's on a variety of possible infections for several diseases.  That leaves a possible antibody test. I don't think you can reach any definitive conclusions about the point of infection by the mere fact that you have a life insurance policy.

Have you had a biopsy?  Marked amount of fibrosis would make the 70's more likely than a much more recent tat. I would never expect that clean bill of health from an insurance company is certifiable health.

[copyman]

Don't let that policy lapse!  You will not be able to get it again, even if you clear the virus. You will have antibodies the rest of your life and even though "cured" insurance companies consider you high risk. It is their loss because once SVR( "cured") people live out a normal life. There is probably an insurance company somewhere that insures "high risk" med conditions but it will cost you an arm & leg.

I would guess you had this since your risky behavior in the 70's.  Anything could of happen with the Insur co's blood sample, false neg test, mixed up the blood samples, etc.

Best of luck