Is someone a carrier of hepititis C if they have spontaneously cleared the virus?

[magpie266]

Is someone a carrier of hepititis C if they have spontaneously cleared the virus?

I am researching reasons that the armed forces may not accept somene with the above...

help would be appreciated

thanks :o)

[magpie266]

Just one more thing this is the UK army... :o)

[jmjm530]

You probably will always have Hep C antibodies but some people do lose them over time. I suppose you could test for antibodies every year or so if really interested, just don't have too high an expectation they will disappear.

[jmjm530]

Trish mentioned "hep b" so not sure if a mistake or if she's talking about hep b. In any event, Hep C is different.

There is no such thing as a Hep C "carrier". You either have Hep C or you don't. And since you don't have any viral load, you don't have Hep C.

-- Jim

[magpie266]

One more question - will I always have the anti-bodies in my blood?

[magpie266]

I have never had treatment for this but I was only 15 when contracted and therefore my body cleared it withiut me even knowing i had it..... I found out 3 years later accidently .... lets hope they let me in.... many thanks for your help and i will keep you informed as to whether they do let me in.... many thanks again

[Trish77]

This may be of no help at all but I'll include it anyway.  There are three phases of Hep B.  Acute, Carrier and Chronic.  Acute means you had, it cleared it and while the antibodies remain in your blood, you are non-infectious and immune by virtue of the properties of the antibodies that you have.  You are NOT considered a Carrier.  A Carrier is as mremeet describes...IS infectious however the disease is not harming you.

You might want to determine what they mean by "Carrier" which could be their way of saying "infectious" and able to pass it on to others.  And then determine if that is your status.

Hope this helps.