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successful post treatment exposure
I recently tested positive after 3 1/2 years post Pegasus treatment which was successful. Is it positive that this test is a false positive and that I will carry the antibodies indefinitely? I plan to have more extensive labs done to analyze whether I am in an active or inactive status as well viral load numbers. Has this happened to anyone else out there? I am a non-drinker/non-drug user however I do work in the medical field and fear I may have been re-infected through a continuous use vaccination vial.
Hello! I'm a Paramedic who got this lovely stuff from needle stick while coding a patient and am currently enduring treatment...And, as you've ascertained, yes, once positive, always positive...But it is a positive "Titer" (antibodies)...
For your sanity, get a PCR (viral load) test done if you haven't already...Here's the answer to your next question..."So, am I still contagious?" I had to ask this of a virologist..His statement was (Never a direct answer! Grr!) ,"Treat it as if you still have it...While there is no measurable viral load, and the damage from the HCV is stopped, there is always the remote chance it can come back..Live a liver healthy life style, keep your personal grooming and hygiene articles to yourself, and get your liver function tests (look for elevated enzymes) done once a year..."..So, the answer is,"No you're not contagious, but be careful." I hope this helps...I had the misfortune of having a medical practitioner who initially blew my first "discovery" HCV test off as a "false positive"...and two more years passed before it was "rediscovered"...Thank God this stuff is hard to transmit...Hang in there! Keep me posted on how you are doing! ((((HUGZ))))
For your sanity, get a PCR (viral load) test done if you haven't already...Here's the answer to your next question..."So, am I still contagious?" I had to ask this of a virologist..His statement was (Never a direct answer! Grr!) ,"Treat it as if you still have it...While there is no measurable viral load, and the damage from the HCV is stopped, there is always the remote chance it can come back..Live a liver healthy life style, keep your personal grooming and hygiene articles to yourself, and get your liver function tests (look for elevated enzymes) done once a year..."..So, the answer is,"No you're not contagious, but be careful." I hope this helps...I had the misfortune of having a medical practitioner who initially blew my first "discovery" HCV test off as a "false positive"...and two more years passed before it was "rediscovered"...Thank God this stuff is hard to transmit...Hang in there! Keep me posted on how you are doing! ((((HUGZ))))
One noted researcher contends that HCV infected people who clear the virus can become antibody negative after many years. Since the subject of this article is Occult HCV this observation is somewhat disconcerting - there can be no antibodies yet occult virus may nevertheless exist.
From: http://www.mlo-online.com/articles/0206/0206clinical_issues.pdf
Occult hepatits C virus persistence: identification and characteristics
By Tram N.Q. Pham, PhD, and Tomasz I. Michalak, MD, PhD
"Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) are detectable by commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays in 50% to 70% of patients at the onset of symptoms, increasing to more than 90% after three months, and completely disappearing 10
to 20 years after resolution of hepatitis.8 Spontaneous recovery and apparently complete clearance of HCV RNA occur in 15% to 50% of patients with acute disease."
Mike
From: http://www.mlo-online.com/articles/0206/0206clinical_issues.pdf
Occult hepatits C virus persistence: identification and characteristics
By Tram N.Q. Pham, PhD, and Tomasz I. Michalak, MD, PhD
"Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) are detectable by commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays in 50% to 70% of patients at the onset of symptoms, increasing to more than 90% after three months, and completely disappearing 10
to 20 years after resolution of hepatitis.8 Spontaneous recovery and apparently complete clearance of HCV RNA occur in 15% to 50% of patients with acute disease."
Mike
As stated, you will test positive for the antibodies for the rest of your life.
Same principle as people who have had syphilis. Even though they were treated and no longer have the disease, test will show antibodies in the blood but no active disease. Like JennyPenny said, have a viral load test. Also, working in the medical field you should be aware of the danger of continuous use vaccination vials. That would be a no no.
Best to you
Trinity
Same principle as people who have had syphilis. Even though they were treated and no longer have the disease, test will show antibodies in the blood but no active disease. Like JennyPenny said, have a viral load test. Also, working in the medical field you should be aware of the danger of continuous use vaccination vials. That would be a no no.
Best to you
Trinity
Once antibody positive, always antibody positive. If you fear re-infection has a viral load test done. Good luck.
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