Aa
3 month post tx test results
Hi - have not posted for awhile, but just got my 3 month tests back. I am(was?) 1a, about 3 mill viral load, on 48 wk trial of interferen and either viramidine/riba. Still having sides, mostly fatigue and brainfog/depression, but slowly improving. This test was done by an outside doctor, because it is not part of the protocal of the trial
HCV load bDNA result <615
log10 RNA result <2.79
along with a note saying my viral load is normal
I assume this is very good news, but need opinions.. also, does anyone know the chances of being permanently clear, when 3 months out we are clear? I am so cynical and don't want to get my hopes up, it's hard for me to accept good news! Makes me realize how hard this struggle is, living with this for so long (for me, about 20 years) and the toll it takes on all of us..
thanks
Carol
HCV load bDNA result <615
log10 RNA result <2.79
along with a note saying my viral load is normal
I assume this is very good news, but need opinions.. also, does anyone know the chances of being permanently clear, when 3 months out we are clear? I am so cynical and don't want to get my hopes up, it's hard for me to accept good news! Makes me realize how hard this struggle is, living with this for so long (for me, about 20 years) and the toll it takes on all of us..
thanks
Carol
It's just had because she wants to know if she is clear or not and right now doesn't really know...why doctors can DO THIS to us makes no sense - order the BEST TEST you dummo so we have no questions!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)
The sensitive TMA test is considerably more expensive than the PCR. We all complain about the costs of health care, insurance companies working against us, yah-da-yah-ya. Let's assume the PCR costs $200 and the TMA $500. Would you yourself pay for the TMA when the PCR is more affordable alternative to the TMA as a post tx diagnostic?
Remember folks, when we spend insurance dollars, we're not taking from the insurance company. Those costs are eventually passed through to all the other issured members of the pool. Indiscriminate spending contributes to the escalating costs we see every day.
I think I'm with FLguy, where I'd probably choose to spend the extra money on the TMA, but if I already had a PCR in hand, I'd simply go with that.
I don't like to think that Doctors 'do this to us'. I prefer to focus on the good they do. It seems to me that most Hep Drs are responsible caring people, dedicated to their hard earned professions and the difficult job of curing people of this disease.
Just my two cents. Peace.
Remember folks, when we spend insurance dollars, we're not taking from the insurance company. Those costs are eventually passed through to all the other issured members of the pool. Indiscriminate spending contributes to the escalating costs we see every day.
I think I'm with FLguy, where I'd probably choose to spend the extra money on the TMA, but if I already had a PCR in hand, I'd simply go with that.
I don't like to think that Doctors 'do this to us'. I prefer to focus on the good they do. It seems to me that most Hep Drs are responsible caring people, dedicated to their hard earned professions and the difficult job of curing people of this disease.
Just my two cents. Peace.
The reason I feel so strongly that a 615 is a waste of time is really the fact that it did affect me so greatly.
I could say yes I am undetectible - by OLD standards ... but I am not really. I think it is very important for us to know pretty much when we DO really clear so that we can have the additional 36 weeks tx to achieve SVR.
If I went by the test 615 - it would really change that number pretty drastically you know?
I believe that if insurance is paying the doctors should just be as diligent and precise as they can be with getting our results.
If it was my 12 week - I would not want to be under a false impression, I'd need to know the truth as best as possible so not to make a mistake later with SVR.
Does that make sense? I think it's crucial - just my opinion.
I could say yes I am undetectible - by OLD standards ... but I am not really. I think it is very important for us to know pretty much when we DO really clear so that we can have the additional 36 weeks tx to achieve SVR.
If I went by the test 615 - it would really change that number pretty drastically you know?
I believe that if insurance is paying the doctors should just be as diligent and precise as they can be with getting our results.
If it was my 12 week - I would not want to be under a false impression, I'd need to know the truth as best as possible so not to make a mistake later with SVR.
Does that make sense? I think it's crucial - just my opinion.
like the guys said, 3 months post tx, that bug would have come back way above the 615IU, you are in the SVR group, most likely.
YOU WERE A 1A, just like me and tnguy and oreos, and all the other one As that have checked in recently with their good news.
I should make a list of former 1a's.
YOU WERE A 1A, just like me and tnguy and oreos, and all the other one As that have checked in recently with their good news.
I should make a list of former 1a's.
while on tx, yes, get the most sensitive test you can get, at 12 wks post tx, you are probably ok with a less sensitive test, since the virus multiplies like fruit flies!
Hi NYgrl,
Sensitivity of the 12 week (from the start of tx) is, of course, paramount. Personally, I place more importance it than the post tx test, because actions taken based on it can certainly affect outcome of treatment. In the case of the 12 week post tx test, I'm not sure it's as important - since the horses are already out of the barn, if you will.
I'm including Jim the Study-meister on the addy - I think he may know of a study that speaks to the predictive value of TMA at 3 mos post TX. If my cloudy mind has it right, I think the 3 mo TMA is deemed as predictive as a 6 mo PCR.
Having said all this, when my Doc proposed a 6 mos post tx PCR, I offered to pay out of pocket for a 3 mos post TMA.
PS Don't mean to pick on you here - just airing differing views :)
Sensitivity of the 12 week (from the start of tx) is, of course, paramount. Personally, I place more importance it than the post tx test, because actions taken based on it can certainly affect outcome of treatment. In the case of the 12 week post tx test, I'm not sure it's as important - since the horses are already out of the barn, if you will.
I'm including Jim the Study-meister on the addy - I think he may know of a study that speaks to the predictive value of TMA at 3 mos post TX. If my cloudy mind has it right, I think the 3 mo TMA is deemed as predictive as a 6 mo PCR.
Having said all this, when my Doc proposed a 6 mos post tx PCR, I offered to pay out of pocket for a 3 mos post TMA.
PS Don't mean to pick on you here - just airing differing views :)
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