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Hepatitis C?
Hello all. I've been searching information on the internet and came across this board and here i am asking for someone to help me out, please.
A couple of months ago i've decided to give blood for the first time, so i went and gave blood, everything went smooth with no problems. Some time later i've recieved a letter warning me to some "changes" in my blood panel. The tests came back reactive for HCV antibodies; positive for INNO LIA HCV but negative for NAT HCV.
Please, could someone explain these results to me? Since these results, i've been with an hepatologist and made a lot of tests but i'm still waiting for the results...
A couple of months ago i've decided to give blood for the first time, so i went and gave blood, everything went smooth with no problems. Some time later i've recieved a letter warning me to some "changes" in my blood panel. The tests came back reactive for HCV antibodies; positive for INNO LIA HCV but negative for NAT HCV.
Please, could someone explain these results to me? Since these results, i've been with an hepatologist and made a lot of tests but i'm still waiting for the results...
Good news. Very good news. I got one of the "letters" from the bloodbank too in about 1993. It is scary and I am glad you do not have cronic hep C
I went to the hepatologist today to know the test results. The anti-HCV (ELISA and RIBA)confirms positive for antibodies but PCR-RNA came back “Not Detectable”confirming the first NAT HCV made 2 months ago, all other values were normal (ALT, AST, GGT, CPK, Bilirubin, Ferritin, Iron, Prothrombin time) so, it seems that i am a lucky man. This kind of luck happens one time in life, this was it.
I would like to thank you all for the help on achieving the information i needed and for all your opinions and concerns (even the bitter ones).
Peace and love to you all and best of luck on your journey.
Godspeed
I would like to thank you all for the help on achieving the information i needed and for all your opinions and concerns (even the bitter ones).
Peace and love to you all and best of luck on your journey.
Godspeed
Sorry for my agressive answer. I'm trying to deal with all this. Maybe a little scared and revolted with life, at the moment. But it will get better.
Thank You
Thank You
I thought maybe John hadn't caught the "IF" in your earlier post.
Nobody is trying to stop you from adding your perspective to the forum.
We all have our point of view, and the more varied answers, the better, in my opinion.
Nobody is trying to stop you from adding your perspective to the forum.
We all have our point of view, and the more varied answers, the better, in my opinion.
Sorry you thought that. And so glad you look as if you have cleared it. I certainly was not judging. Just trying to give good advice.
I have no room to judge. Sorry it seemed this way. I contacted mine probably through risky lifestyle. Just trying to give good advice! Wasn't expecting to get an answer to how because none of us know for sure. Again just trying to give good advice. Again I am not judging! But I will say and do anything to keep someone from making stupid mistakes which might get them here! Maybe that is the problem, too many affraid they might be criticized for speaking up!
It doesn't matter how anyone got the virus, what matters is going forward with caring for yourself.
I think cindy was just saying IF, not meaning to judge you.
I can't add to the otherwise good advice given to you by Dawn and Will.
BTW: Many people have no idea how they could have gotten this virus.
I think cindy was just saying IF, not meaning to judge you.
I can't add to the otherwise good advice given to you by Dawn and Will.
BTW: Many people have no idea how they could have gotten this virus.
Cindy. Thank you for your advice. I believe i had contact with the virus through a tattoo made 7 years ago. I don't use drugs (I V or not)neither do i ever had a blood transfusion.
I'm a married man with two beautiful children and i workout everyday for 20 years now. I don't drink, i don't smoke and i am and always have been faithfull to my wife.
Don't judge someone you don't know, it is not nice.
I'm a married man with two beautiful children and i workout everyday for 20 years now. I don't drink, i don't smoke and i am and always have been faithfull to my wife.
Don't judge someone you don't know, it is not nice.
HCV NAT = Hepatitis C Virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology
I googled this term and cannot tell you what it means. However if you have tested positive for the antibodies, you need to have a test that quantifies the virus -- that is, counts them. Until you have this test done you don't know if you have active hepatitis C or not.
When they test blood for a blood bank they do not do a quantification test. You must have your doctor -- and at this point you don't need a hepatologist -- run the HCV RNA test.
cindyh113 -- I don't know you, but your statement is awfully judgemental, don't you think? You judge and then you pray.
frijole
I googled this term and cannot tell you what it means. However if you have tested positive for the antibodies, you need to have a test that quantifies the virus -- that is, counts them. Until you have this test done you don't know if you have active hepatitis C or not.
When they test blood for a blood bank they do not do a quantification test. You must have your doctor -- and at this point you don't need a hepatologist -- run the HCV RNA test.
cindyh113 -- I don't know you, but your statement is awfully judgemental, don't you think? You judge and then you pray.
frijole
If you may have exposed yourself through risky lifestyle, STOP IT! You do not want this. If not question how you may have gotten it and take precautions in the future. Again I say you do not want this virus. Praying you are false positive!
Thank you very much for your answers. I've gathered some information that pointed that way. I guess i had to see someone else saying it. I felt a little lost and alone on this, thankfully it will all turn ok.
I will keep you posted about the results of the tests. I'm going to see the hepatologist again by the end of the week.
And again, thank you very much :)
I will keep you posted about the results of the tests. I'm going to see the hepatologist again by the end of the week.
And again, thank you very much :)
Just to add to the info Dawn gave you. It is possible the HCV antibodies test was a "false positive"
The antibodies test is very sensitive to other antibodies we have and can sometimes cross -react...hence a false positive.
The Hepatologist would have run further testing to confirm either that or as Dawn mentioned you may have been exposed to the virus and your own immune system cleared it.
Best of luck and let us know..
Will
The antibodies test is very sensitive to other antibodies we have and can sometimes cross -react...hence a false positive.
The Hepatologist would have run further testing to confirm either that or as Dawn mentioned you may have been exposed to the virus and your own immune system cleared it.
Best of luck and let us know..
Will
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Anyone who donates blood is tested for many things, including HCV. This is done first by an antibody test, if someone tests positive, a nucleic acid amplification test is done. This tests if there is virus in your blood.
Someone who has been exposed to HCV, as yourself, but cleared the virus on their own will ALWAYS test positive for the HCV antibody. The antibodies do not hurt you.
It was wise of you to seek out a hepatologist who ran some more tests. Good luck and keep us posted.