Good reminder about safety. Thanks to everyone for your responses. Very helpful. and reassuring.
Carrier is an old term used to explain "positive hepatitis C antibodies". It's sometimes used still but I find the term confusing. "Carrier" sounds like you are a carrier of the hepatitis C virus. You see how this can confuse people.
Once you have been confirmed positive for hepatitis C antibodies......you will test positive for the rest of your life. Hepatitis C antibodies don't protect you from getting reinfected with Hepatitis C.
You are currently undetected absent SVR. It's unknown if you are able to
reinfect others in your current status. So, conduct yourself as if you have Hepatitis C till you obtain SVR. There is still a rare chance the Hepatitis C virus can return after 3 months and you should test and confirm your SVR
at 6 months.
Wishing you the best outcome.
Soldier, a couple of things....if people are uneducated about hep C they may believe that you are still infected. There is no carrier state in hepatitis C. You cannot transmit the disease if you are undetected. And the virus can only live outside the body for a little while....4 days is the amount of time I have seen reported but that is in a perfect environment. I would not worry for one second about your clothes. I would get rid of your toothbrush and hygiene articles that might have blood on them like razors, etc. Good luck on getting that SVR.
Livelife, I think you said something that you didn't mean to say....."It's kinda like if you had Chicken Pox. Once you have it you will always carry the antibodies but will never be infected again." Hepatitis C antibodies are not protective. There is no immunity. You can reinfect if you engage in risky behaviors.
Thanks so much for the information and encouragement. If I come in contact with dried blood from when I was infected like on a shirt or surface, will that still endanger me with reinfection? Have disinfected the house but nervous about any surface I might have missed.
Hi there Soldier. First of all Congrats for being UND. You are on a wonderful life saving drug and the odds are incredibly in your favor that retreating will not become a necessity. Wow!
As far as carrying the Hep C antibodies, they will be with you for life. It's kinda like if you had Chicken Pox. Once you have it you will always carry the antibodies but will never be infected again. The same is true with Hep C, as you will show at one time that you were exposed but will NOT be contagious.
With the Hep C virus you can reinfect IF you come across tainted blood. So even tho you will be cured, you will never be immune. After going thru all of this it's rather doubtful that any of us will take a risk of reinfecting thru bad behavior or bad luck.
My best
.....Kim
Good news! The second test at another doctor reported the virus "undetected". Now here's hoping for the 3 month test for SVR. By the way, will I always test positive for the Hep C antibodies and if so, will people assume I have Hep C or just be considered a carrier? And if so, that doesn't mean I am contagious, right?