Lab Corp no longer offering <10 PCR.

[orleans]

Scared the c**p outa me for sure. As most of you know I dropped the RIBA a few weeks ago. Well I did a PCR, checking on break thru. When I called my lab lady she read the results saying "<43" HCV RNA not detected." I'm LIKE, what's this <43?? She doesn't know, she said it was the same test we've been doing from the start which is the 10 to 100,000,000 . (been UND <10 from week 2) Of course I'm thinking of the confusion during the Telaprivir trials and others. Well I'm a LITTLE worried at this point so she starts making calls trying to find something out. That was yesterday, got the word this morn. Lab Crop has stopped the 10-100,000,000 and in it's place is using a 43-69,000,000. The L.Corp lady told my lady that they considered this test more reliable and consistant. I am still UND. jerry

[jmjm530]

"43" is IU's ml.

[apache1]

Yes, iirr from previous HR post, 2.5 virons per 1 IU/ml
Don't think it matters what test.
For every 1 IU/ml of virus in blood = 2.5 virons

apache

[jmjm530]

Actually, the conversions are not the same for all types of tests as  FLGuy said. For that reason, it's surprising that some labs still report in copies and haven't simply converted to IU/ml. Between "copies", IU/ml and "logs" -- test results now can be misinterpreted three different ways.

[apache1]

Does 1 copy = 1 viron ?

[CockSparrow]

LabCorp have moved from the Abbott test to Roches Taqman test.
Funny thing is Taqman is supposed to reflex down to <15 when Und @<43.
I wouldnt worry about it though, if you breakthru it will be a lot higher than 43

I dont agree with LabCorps assessment that Taqman is superior tp the Abbott test.
Me thinks Roche have done a deal.

The 43 is in IUs and the conversion to copies is either 2.5 or 2.7 I cant remember which.
CS

[copyman]

Thanks for that info about not offering the <10 test anymore. I had the same thing happen to me. I was did the LC <10 test at  week 3 ,8,12,and all were UNDE <10.  then at 16 weeks I call for results and I liked to $h%& when she told me <43. It still said at bottom "unable to measure because no virus present". But that didn't help my heart stopping when she told me <43 at first !!!
We figured they made a mistake and ran the wrong test. From now on I will order the NGI quant <2