Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Hep C carrier???

I have a friend that has been diagnosed with hep c.  as you all know, I am going thru my second round of tx.  She is being told she is a "carrier".  Can someone help me with that?  Either you have hep c, or you don't.  but a carrier?  Has anyone else heard of this?  i would like to advise my friend that I think she is getting misinformation, but I would like the opinions of you folks on this issue.

Thanks all!

Jean
40 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I donated plasma and showed up for hep c and went through further testing and showed the dr said that i had contracted it but my body fought it off but i am a carrier so i dont understand does that mean i can pass it on to my family if accident should happen??
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
If your body fought it off, you no longer have the virus, and you can't give to anyone else. But you will always test positive for it, just like with Chickenpox. You either have it or you don't.

If you did still have the virus, it is very very hard to catch in a home environment. I am married 32 years now, but did not know I had it, and neither my husband nor daughter got it.
18661137 tn?1466724708
I said I was a carrier my blood work cones back good. I asked my doc if I get the pills that cures it she said I wasn't qualified. I don't understand If your test comes back you got it shouldn't matter
Helpful - 0
18661137 tn?1466724708
I said I was a carrier my blood work cones back good. I asked my doc if I get the pills that cures it she said I wasn't qualified. I don't understand If your test comes back you got it shouldn't matter
Helpful - 0
2059648 tn?1439766665
I know someone who is a healthcare professional in a well known University Hospital.   They were told they are a Hepatitis C "Carrier."  This was just a year ago.   Even tho it's an older term....it's still used.   I think the word carrier is confusing.   It sounds like your actively infected with HCV.   But this same person thought since they only had Hepatitis C Antibodies (Hepatitis C Carrier) that they were protected from getting Hepatitis C.   I was shocked due to fact they are a nurse with a masters education.   Yes I would make sure the record is very clear.   You are positive for Hepatiis C Antibodies, you don't have hepatitis C and Hepatitis C Antibodies don't protect you from HCV.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I found this message board because I googled Hep c carrier.  Ten years ago I donated blood and I received news that I had a false positive to Hep, c.  They said that further testing showed that I did not have Hep. c, but that false positive would put me on a lifetime "do not donate" list.  
Last week after a routine physical, I was given papers summarizing my health.  I saw that they had listed Hepittis C carrier as a medical condition of mine.  
Should I take the time to set the record straight?  Or am I indeed a carrier.
Thanks
Susan
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much. Been to embarrass and scared to say anything.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much. Been to embarrass and scared to say anything.
Helpful - 0
2059648 tn?1439766665
"Carrier" is an old term when it comes to Hepatitis C.   What you want to know is if you are "negative" or "positive for "Hepatitis C Antibodies".

If you are "positive" then you need to have a "HCV PCR RNA" test to find
out if you have "active" Hepatitis C.   This test is done to confirm the positive results of the simple "Hepatitis C test" you apparently had in 1997.

You need two tests to prove you have Hepatitis C that can infect others.  
If you don't know the results of those two different tests....it would be impossible to know if you currently are able to pass Hepatitis C to others.
Hepatitis isn't that easy to get.  Many people live with others and have Hepatitis C and never infect others.   You should take the effort to not
share toothbrushes, razors, clippers that may have blood on them.  But if
you only have "Hepatitis C Antibodies" then you can't transmit Hepatitis C to someone else.   Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood.  The person has to have active Hepatitis C to give Hep C to someone else.  

I don't know where you live in the world.  But if you live in the United States
you can get tested if your concerned.   I would recommend do get tested.

Best to you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
After being told was a carrier that was it no meds or advise help me to understand
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If I am a carrier what about my loved ones that was 1997
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, one dr. Said I was a carrier
Helpful - 0
2059648 tn?1439766665
Have you ever been tested for hepatitis C?  Just having a gamma  globin
shot doesn't mean you are positive hepatitis C.   Did you test positive for hepatitis C?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was given a shot games goblin I know this is misspelled. Would this make me a carrier. That's what I was told.a coworker in the health care profession came in contact with active hepatitis worried
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was diagnosed over 30 years ago so I don t know where your getting it was discovered 25 years ago
Helpful - 0
1446517 tn?1304546575
Yes, it means exactly that. You can infect someone by those methods, and by having sex.
Helpful - 0
1446517 tn?1304546575
I was told the same thing.
I had Hep C symptoms and was sick for a month, 28 years ago.
I got better, and was told I was "not a carrier", by my doctor.
That means I cannot give it to anyone, but I am still going to die of liver disease or cancer at some point?

Nobody ever told me I needed any treatment. I was told there is no treatment.
You either get better or you die. I lost so much weight, but, I am still here!
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
Since hep c has only been discovered in the past 25 years, lots of the things doctors learned about it in med school are already obsolete.
______________________________________________________________________
I absolutely agree.  Isn't it something that even in her new book published in 2004 she is still talking about this "healthy chronic carrier"?  The rest of the book is fine but to talk about this in an informational manner is totally irresponsible, jmo.  At least she has minimized what she said in the first book.  Maybe it's an East Coast thing. lol  Incidentally I have only heard one other doctor use that term and he is a complete idiot. go figure
Helpful - 0
1225178 tn?1318980604
I understand that you weren't stating your opinion. Since hep c has only been discovered in the past 25 years, lots of the things doctors learned about it in med school are already obsolete. I guess we have to look for doctors who are keeping up with the latest discoveries on a regular basis.

Diane
Helpful - 0
1491755 tn?1333201362
I didn't know Dr. Palmer's book was on line for free.  I ve seen some videos on YouTube of hers, but was unaware of the book.  Knowledge is key, I tend to have to print articles and studies to educate people about Hep. C.   Before I got hep c, I never knew there were so many experts on the subject in ordinary like.......lol.  It's a battle and now I have another bullet.

Thanks !
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
If you just google what I have below the new book will come up, around the 4th link when I tried it.  Not everything she says in her book is right but I think the way she uses the term "healthy chronic carrier" is important nonetheless.  


Doctor Melissa Palmer's guide to hepatitis and liver disease
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
I had persistently normal ALTs for years, yet my viral load was 6,000,000 and I was Stage 2 Grade 2 when I got my biopsy.... so that opinion is obviously not correct.
_______________________________________________________________________
It's not my opinion, it's what's in the lady doctors book, Dr Melissa Palmer.  In the newer book it's on page 128 and in the older book it's on page 161.  The book is on google for free if anyone wants to check it out and it specifically talks about "healthy chronic carrier".  I have the older book but there's not an easy way to share it and I've forgotten how to use the tinyurl.  If the OP is interested then read my posts as they are all true and not my opinion at all.
Helpful - 0
338734 tn?1377160168
Carrier is a little antiquated and really not appropriate for someone who is SVR. However, my hepatologist says that, even someone who is SVR, should be ruled out as an organ doner except in cases where they would use an organ for an already infected recipient. Also, a formerly infected patient is not allowed to donate blood. There are still some questions as to what tissues in the body of an SVR patient may still have remnants of the virus, if not active replicating virus.

Does this mean you are a carrier in the sense that you could infect someone else? I think not. Just don't donate blood or share needles.
Helpful - 0
419309 tn?1326503291
Most of us are 'asymptomatic carriers' of chicken pox but we're not actively infected.
All people with hep c were 'infected' at one point or another, regardless of current status, which actually still fits the less than sufficient wiki interpretation given above.

Another way of thinking about it is being an asymptomatic 'carrier' of a genetic disease as opposed to an infectious disease, lets say.  You have the presence of something in your blood that shows a marker for an environmental or genetic exposure or condition, but you cannot cause disease all by yourself (or infect another).  

It's not the best terminology, but it's not wrong either.
Helpful - 0
1225178 tn?1318980604
Here is Wikipedia's definition .... kinda:

Asymptomatic carrier, a person or organism infected with an infectious disease agent, but displaying no symptoms.

Once we are SVR we aren't infected with an infectious disease agent, so we can't be carriers. Since antibodies aren't infectious, that can't be what they are talking about.

Jean: What kind of doctor told your friend she was a carrier?

Diane
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.