Indeterminant HCV

[BzFa]

I did this HCV, HIV thest about a week ago and the result came out a bit confusing. It reads as follows:

Hepatitis C antibody (Total) - Anti HCV      Indeterminant

HCV Abs - Tested by 2 different methods. Reactive in one assay but negative in second alternative assay. this may due to biological false positive reaction. if further clarification is required suggest Hep C RNA PCR qualitative/quantitative assay to confirm presence of virus/viral load.

So I'm a bit confused. doctor explained that I may have HCV but she can't be sure before she does some more tests...
How likely do you think I am HCV+?
Should I do the RNA PCR (or something) test or should I just repeat the antibody test again?

Thank you for your help

Behzad

[Dannyboi7]

It simply means you tested positive for the HCV anti bodies,this doesn't mean you have the Hep C virus.The second test she will do on you is the HCV PCR RNA QUAL,if that one comes out positive then that would confirm you have the virus.

   The positive results of the first test only indicates you have the anti bodies.This only indicates that you either had a past infection and your immune system cleared it on it's own or you have a current infection.This is why the second test is needed.

Best of luck to you

Dannyboi7

[Idyllic]

Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) or enzyme immunoassay (EIA): The ELISA (also referred to as EIA) detects antibodies against recombinant HCV antigens. "First generation" ELISAs used a single antigen; later tests added additional antigens.146-148 Second and third-generation tests are both in standard use. Because of concerns about false-positive tests, particularly in low-prevalence populations (such as blood donors or asymptomatic adults), the CDC has recommended confirming positive ELISA results with a supplemental test (recombinant immunoblot assay or polymerase chain reaction), unless the signal-to-cut-off ratio is above a predetermined threshold that has been shown to confirm positive more than 95% of the time.90

Your test result indicates it is unlikely anyone can predict you are HCV + I would follow the advisement on the what is written on your test result ("if further clarification is required suggest Hep C RNA PCR qualitative/quantitative assay to confirm presence of virus/viral load") or NAT for HCV RNA

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/322190?personal_page_id=414409

Plus the conclusion in this study kind of explains it:
The HCV-RIBA indeterminate status may indicate either a non-specific reaction (false positive) or a real pre-existing or initial infection and does not, therefore, enable a prediction of outcome.

The use of HCV genomic assays (nucleic acid amplification testing), which are more specific than antibody-based assays (ELISA, RIBA), therefore improves HCV blood donor testing by allowing an accurate interpretation of such primary assays.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2626846/