quantitative or qualitative?

good day, everyone.. just want to ask which test is better/more sensitive to confirm that a person is a hep c carrier, QUANTIITATIVE OR QUALITATIVE TEST? thanks for your time..

[Trinity4]

Both tests are sensitive and both detect the presence of virus in the blood but the difference is quantitative gives the viral load (how many viral particles or ribonucleic acid; RNA, or genetic material) is in the blood per ML of blood) if the virus is detected at or above the sensitivity of the test.  A qualitative test does not do this.  If you are considering treatment soon the quantitative PCR should be used to established a baseline viral load and subsequent viral load counts until the completion of treatment.  Once treatment is complete, a qualitative PCR would be fine because really at that point all that matters is if the virus is still present.  Can't do anything about viral load after the fact but many people still request a quantitative PCR post tx because if it comes back DETECTED they want the viral load.  Silly but true because I was one of them.

Trinity

[FlGuy]

I think you wrote in other posts that you were recently tested to be undetected, with a test sensitivity to 15.

If you have a future test an option might be to have a qualitative with REFLEX to quantative.  That means, do the qualitative and if it comes back positive THEN run the quantatitave to count 'em. I don't have the material handy but it's eith Lab Corp or Quest, maybe both.

[joyce889]

thanks very much for your reply... the question whether i have the virus or not just keeps on popping in my mind.. so, i decided to have a qualitative test. hopefully, i will be negative from the virus...God Bless!!!