Post tx PCR test

How long do you have to take PCR test post intrfrn/riba tx to confirm either your SVR or not?My doc said 6 months, anyone take test earlier than 6 months?I want to take earlier beacuse I can't  wait to know the results making me harder to sleep at night just thinking about it.

[mremeet]

You can start getting them as early as you want. But a 3 month post tx UND with a sensitive PCR (that goes down to about 10 IU/ml or so) predicts an SVR with nearly 100% certainty. If I were you I'd go for the 3 month, that way you'll know in half the time.

[nygirl7]

Usually you get one right when you stop to make sure you haven't had any viral breakthrough (although I skipped mine...too chicken) then you get a 3 month then a 6 month then a year then maybe another 6 months or a year after that.  It's important to keep getting them though just in case...good luck!

[GrandmaA]

My liver specialist says 3 mos. 6 mos. then if UND I'm cured. He didn't say anything about 12 mos. If people relapse it's usually in the first 2 mos. so the 3 mos. one is a good idea.

[Lilla]

I posted earlier on my 3 month post PCR.  My doctor's order was to test at 6 months post.  I showed my doctor an article published on 3 month post testing for Geno 2b/no cirrhosis, which predicts SVR with nearly 100% (as mremeet said above) ----  she consented and wrote me order and I had the test and it was still UND.   Early on my doctor made a comment to me that the reason for the 6 month test is due to FDA.   I interpreted it to mean the medical community considers it a cure at 6 months when still UND.   Someone said to me in this forum (as I was very anxious about the 3 month test) that wouldn't the UND make a great Christmas gift.    They were right.   All the best of luck to you.

[jmjm530]

UND at 4-weeks post is about 90% accurate. UND at 12 weeks post is 100% accurate if you are not stage 4 (cirrhosis) according to a recent study. I tested at weeks 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48. For me, the week 2 and week 6 UND was a big, big relief. The week 12 a solid confirmation. And the week 48, just gravey.

[jmjm530]

Forgot "week 24". That was my official SVR 'diploma' :) as it's still the technical def of SVR.

[FloridaMouse]

I had my post tx PCR just shy of the 6 month mark.  I could have had it sooner but I chose not to as the tail end of tx was so hard on me I knew that even if I relapsed, I needed a break and would not treat before 6 months anyway.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
finished tx 4/2007
relapsed 9/2007

[pigeonca]

I believe that jmjm's info is correct, except that the 12 week post UND can be considered 100% accurate only if you were also UND after 4 weeks of tx.  If you didn't attain UND until later, I'm not sure if the 12 week post results apply.

[jmjm530]

I'm almost certain that the  cited was independent of being UND at week 4 (RVR). The only stipulation was non stage 4 status. Couldn't find it this time around, but maybe someone else will post it.