Question About Hep C Blood Test>

[noformstyle]

Hi,

I am confused about hep c test.

I was tested for hep c, I had HCV ab --------Negative.

My doctor says I don't have hep c. But how can he made that conclusion, since it is only antibody test.

I could have hep c virus for year without having antibody right?

Another possiblity is that incubation period of 6 months,maybe I just got the virus,therefore, which antibody hasn't show up yet?

Isn't HCV RNA test the only way to tell if I have the hep c virus?

Antibody tests -
HCV RNA tests -

THANKS  KINDLY FOR HELP

[Bill1954]

I agree with you that a single antibody test after recent exposure might not be conclusive evidence to rule out infection. In some cases, seroconversion has been known to take several months.

You might ask your doctor to consider another antibody test in six months after the first one.

You might also ask for a HCV RNA test, which will be more conclusive for identifying active infection (especially recent exposure), but is generally more expensive.

Good luck to you,

Bill

[noformstyle]

Hi Bill,

you wrote,
"You might ask your doctor to consider another antibody test in six months after the first one"

I plan to take another one in 2 weeks, that will be 1 year since the last test. If I still get a NEGATIVE for antibody, that still doesn't mean that I don't have hep c virus. It just mean I don't have ANTIBODY. Some people never develop HEP C ANTIBODY right??

It still seems RNA Test is the only way to tell,even if I get a NEGATIVE antibody again?

[painterlady13]

Quit worrying, If you still get a negative hepC antibody test after 1 year it would mean that you do NOT have Hep C.   Even if people don't get the active virus the antibodies show up if they have it.  Although also some may have naturally cleared the virus.  Us who have it and have treated for it may be clear of the virus but the antibody will always show up on a blood test.  

[Bill1954]

I�m personally unaware of a situation where a patient is HCV RNA positive/anti-HCV antibody negative. I�m not a medical doctor, and this doesn�t mean this condition could not occur.

Could a situation occur where our immune response (B cell activity) does not promote HCV-specific antibodies to develop against the HCV antigen? I�m not qualified to provide this info.

The above discussion is theoretical in nature only. From a clinical aspect, I believe that the following will effectively rule out active HCV infection:

1) Negative/ Non-reactive HCV RNA viral assay

2) Negative/ Non-reactive anti-HCV antibody tests in SERIES. Multiple antibody testing will provide clinical proof of (or lack of) exposure to HCV.

What is your doctor�s position on this? Just curious, where are you located? Here in the U.S.?

Bill

[Jakied]

Hcv antibody will USUALLY show up on a test within 8 weeks, and 6 months is the outer limit for testing.  If you are antibody neg at 6 months, then you are home free.

The pcr rna test can detect the virus, NOT antibody, within 2 or three weeks after infection.  

The best outcome is to be virus and antibody neg.  Virus neg and antibody pos means you had a prior exposure and cleared the virus but the antibody will be in your system for a LONG time, maybe for the rest of your life.  Virus pos means you have active infection.

I believe people who have SVR have cleared the virus BUT still show antibodies.

[noformstyle]

Bill and Jackie,

Thanks for the reply :)

I live in Los Angeles.

If my antibody come back NEGATIVE, I start to believe that I have a great chance of not having hep c. Since it's been a year since I last tested. I won't have paranoia anymore.

I am already exhausted dealing with hep b. I can't handle another one.

[Jakied]

Are you in treatment for Hbv?

[noformstyle]

Yes, I had treatment for hepb with epivir few years ago. I had viral mutation and major flare up.

Now I am taking chinese herb to manage my condition. I am waiting for drug that won't cause viral mutation so I can take it for life and not worry mutation.
I am waiting for TENOFOVIR to get approve, it may be the drug.

[sh625]

Husband just took test nurse says hep a neg hep b neg hep c CORE neg but HCV should have been .09 but was i thought she said .011 but maybe .11 she did say that it meant it was for sure a positive HCV.How can the core test be negative?Please help I feel as if death is just knocking on my door and nurse won't even return calls

[garret333]

PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE RESULT OF MY BLOOD WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I HAVE HEP C VIRUS.

HBSAG W/TITER (ECLIA)           0.402                               C.O.V. 1.000       NON REACTIVE
ANTI HBS (ECLIA)                      <2.00   IU/L                      C.O.V. 10.000     NON REACTIVE
HBEAG (ECLIA)                          0.137                              C.O.V. 1.000      NON REACTIVE
ANTI HBE (ECLIA)                       1.760                              C.O.V. 1.000      NON REACTIVE
ANTI HAV IGM  (ECLIA)                0.373                             C.O.V. 1.000      NON REACTIVE
ANTI HBC IGG   (ECLIA)                2.730                            C.O.V. 1.000     NON REACTIVE
ANTI HCV (ECLIA)                         0.039                            C.O.V. 1.000     NON REACTIVE


THANK YOU