Anti hcv test positive then negative

[blozzar]

Hello everyone!
I got the results from my anti hcv tests.. they came back positive (doctor said that it is possible to be a false positive- weakly positive 1.6 out of 1.0 ) so 5 days later I went to another lab , got tested for anti-hcv and came back negative -the doctor there told me it was checked twice.
So what should I do know? Is it accurate or should it be reconfirmed .The doctor told me to retest after 5 months ,but I can t wait!

(in both labs they used elisa method)

[James10500]

Check an STD forum.  Hep C is not an STD.  All hepatitis is different.  Hepatitis means inflamed liver.

[brad5]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me ..please....I had sexual encounter with prostitute in Thailand 3 months back(Nov'10)....after coming back from there ....i was all fine for 20 days... but in the month of Dec'10 ..my health conditions started to get worse...and then on 13 dec'10 i was diagnosed with hepatitis A....and then ....later on with Hepatitis E....I went back home for the treatment...and then undergone certain other test...like ANTI HCV (ELISA) ,ANTI HBcAG IGM and ANTI HBcAG IGM (ELISA)....and all kinds of other blood test EXCEPT HIV test....all the other tests came negative......my Hepatitis got cured...after a month.and end up losing 2 inches from the waist and 10 Kgs of body weight ..but after getting cured ...now I have dry cough for almost 2-3 weeks now and lots of chest pain and fatiuge.....CAN ALL THIS BE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIV?....AS I NEVER UNDERGONE ANY HIV ELISA TEST...WAT ARE THE CHANCE OF BEING HIV INFECTED??

[brad5]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me ..please....I had sexual encounter with prostitute in Thailand 3 months back(Nov'10)....after coming back from there ....i was all fine for 20 days... but in the month of Dec'10 ..my health conditions started to get worse...and then on 13 dec'10 i was diagnosed with hepatitis A....and then ....later on with Hepatitis E....I went back home for the treatment...and then undergone certain other test...like ANTI HCV (ELISA) ,ANTI HBcAG IGM and ANTI HBcAG IGM (ELISA)....and all kinds of other blood test EXCEPT HIV test....all the other tests came negative......my Hepatitis got cured...after a month...but after getting cured ...now I have dry cough for almost 2-3 weeks now and lots of chest pain and fatiuge.....CAN ALL THIS BE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIV?....AS I NEVER UNDERGONE ANY HIV ELISA TEST...WAT ARE THE CHANCE OF BEING HIV INFECTED??

[blozzar]

Thanks very much

[Jakied]

With no risk factors, (and by that I mean no blood transfusion before 1991 and no

Intravenous drug use) and a neg screening test, what are you worried about?

You are home free, my friend.  Stop worrying and stop testing.  There is enough to

worry you in this world without taking on a worry about a non existant chance of

being hcv pos.  Worry about winning the lottery or being flattened by a bus.  Something

which is possible.  You having Hcv is not.

[blozzar]

No risk factors!
Just tested positive (general blood test where doc included hcv, hbv) and after 5 days retested and came back negative!

[Jakied]

Tell me about your risk and how long after that was your neg test?  

With antibody testing, the greater the number of days, the more reliable the result.

[blozzar]

Thanks for the replies!
The question is more for the accuracy of the second negative test.. I scared so much because of the first positive so the question here is if I should retest?

[Jakied]

Why are you worried about Hcv?  What is your risk?  I suspect you have a low risk

factor (probably sexual) and your mind is  playing tricks on you.

Remember, Hcv is NOT considered a STD and Hbv and Hiv are.  Sexual transmission

is possible but VERY unlikely.  The most efficient methods of transfer of Hcv is blood

transfusion, before 1991 or so, and sharing needles for drug use.

Also, how log ago was your risk?  If your two neg elisa tests are 3 months after your

risk, then you are home free.

[blozzar]

It was ELISA. That is why I am asking

[Jakied]

Was the second test the 'Riba' test?  After a 'weak pos' on the screening test, the normal

alogorithm is to confirm with the supplementary Riba, which is VERY specific for

Hcv antibody.  The screeming test is VERY sensitive for all antibodies so a 'weak pos'

is usually neg when Riba is used.