hepatitis c

[prakash360]

i was tested anti hcv negative on routine check up.10 days later for a blood donation camp ,when the test was done it came as positive-7 points(against a cut off of 1).after 10 days when i repeated the test it came as 1.6 (against a cut off of 1).it is confusing.can you please explain


This discussion is related to false positive for hep c.

[pooh55811]

"hepatitis C screening test elisa ( anti bodies) is positive and the ratio is 17.00 cut of ratio is 1 "

This means you have been exposed to Hepatitis C at some point in your life.


"my HCV PCR ( RNA ) test is negative"

This mean you do not have Chronic Hepatitis C.


Taken together, this means that you were exposed to Hepatitis C but your body (immune system) was able to fight off the infection and you do not have Chronic Hepatitis C. This happens in about 20% to 25% of people.


If your company will not give you a permanent job because your Hepatitis C antibody test was positive (even though your Hep C RNA is negative), perhaps the doctor will give you a letter or a certificate stating that you do not have Chronic Hepatitis C and that, because you do not have Hepatitis C, you cannot transmit the disease to others and you will not go on to have medical complications from Chronic Hepatitis C.

You do not have the disease so you cannot transmit it to anyone. Hopefully your doctor can provide you with a letter stating you do not have Hepatitis C.


From Lab Tests Online:

The following tests may be used to screen for and/or detect HCV:

    Anti-HCV test detects the presence of antibodies to the virus, indicating exposure to HCV. This test cannot distinguish between someone with an active or a previous HCV infection. Usually, the test is reported as "positive" or "negative." .....
  
The following tests may be used to diagnose a current infection and to guide and monitor treatment:

    HCV RNA test, Qualitative may be used to distinguish between a current or past infection. It is reported as a "positive" or "detected" if any HCV viral RNA is found; otherwise, the report will be "negative" or not detected." .....
    HCV Viral Load (HCV RNA test, Quantitative) detects and measures the number of viral RNA particles in the blood. .....

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hepatitis-c/tab/test

I hope this helps.

[umar14]

hello, my name is umar , as per my hepatitis C screening test elisa ( anti bodies) is positive and the ratio is 17.00 cut of ratio is 1 but in my HCV PCR ( RNA ) test is negative, please explain what is do? because my company didn`t gives me permanent job    

[GrandOak]

PCR is conclusive means of determining if one is infected.

I would not say that a positive of anti-bodies presence is a false positive result though as it is detecting the anti-bodies.  A true false positive is one which reports a positive result for what is being tested when in fact the item being sought is not present at all.

However, I believe even a positive on anti-bodies precludes one from being able to donate as their screening means to insure supply is clean.  Heck, many will not accept you as a donor if you even live with someone who is infected even if you are completely clear of even the anti-bodies.

[anxiety55]

Request PCR tetsing and try diferent lab on antibody testing. I was also tested positive on ELISA and never had risk factors but I was shoked and ruined. They did PCR that was negative and another ELISA in diferent lab and was negative also. False positive sometimes happen. I wish you are false positive aslo and PCR will be negative. Good luck.

[Bill1954]

Prakash, if you had a reactive result with a signal to cut-off ratio of 7:1, you’ll want to request a “HCV RNA by PCR test. The antibody test only checks for possible exposure; the PCR test will tell you if actual virus is present.

Good luck—

Bill