undetected viral load???

[jb1685]

i was recently diagnosed with hep c after a routine blood test. after they ran my viral load it appeared to be undetectable, yet my second blood test came back postive still for hep c. i am curious to know what this means. do i have it or don't i???? thank you...

[jb1685]

thank you very much for answering all of my questions. you all are very informative. thank you and good luck with everything!

[zazza]

Goldenrule is making a very good point here. Since you believe you recently got exposed to hep C, it is important to get tested until you are sure enough time has passed so you can trust your undetectability to be permanent.

Once you and your doc feel confident that your body has conquered the virus, I can't see that there will be any impact on your future because of what has happened. You will never be allowed to donate blood, that is the only thing I can think of, that will have changed.

[goldenrule]

i found out that i had this with routine blood work also. when my antibody test came back positive, they did viral load. with then showed up at 899. It was barely detected.. From what I understand the viral load can go in and out of detectable ranges... FYI.. the earlier this is caught with less time to replicate and the lower the  viral load is,  makes treating more successful... I would continue to get tested every three months/...
Good luck to you

[zazza]

"my second blood test came back postive still for hep c"

Just to make sure I am not misinterpreting your words: This second blood test was an antibody test, right?

[zazza]

Antibodies just show that you at one point in your life have been in contact with the virus. It is the detectable viral load that shows if you still have hep C.

[zazza]

If you have gone past the window period of hep C, i e it has gone long enough after your exposure to the virus before you got tested for viral load, then you are homefree, you cannot pass the virus on since your body has won the battle. As to drinking, too much is not good for anyone, even without hep C. Ask your doc how long the window period is, I think it is 3 months, but not sure.

[KDH59]

WELL THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. IT CAN TAKE THAT LONG FOR TO GET TO STAGE 1...BUT HOPE YOU WERE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. PLEASE REMEMBER TO GET TESTED AS OFTEN AS YOUR DR SAYS...GOOD LUCK,,KIRK

[jb1685]

what does this mean for my future. does this mean that i wont pass it to anyone... and that i drink without harming my liver????

[zazza]

If you just have the antibodies and have no detectable viral load, then you are good to go. Your body has fought it off. You are one of the lucky 20% whose immune system managed to get rid off this virus in its acute stage.

[jb1685]

it had to have been with in the last year... my doctor told me i had the antibodies but an undetected viral load... she said presumeably that my body fought off the virus. i have an appt. with my GI DR. with in the week. I have just been on such a rollercoaster ride since i found out... i am just wondering what it means for the future????

[KDH59]

Yes you are Postive but might be in the early stages. Do you know how long ago the situatiion happened to you that gave you HEP C?  What did your DR tell you?

[copyman]

you may have been very lucky and fought off the virus but now have just the anti bodies in your blood,