Test results

[Lauransmith]

I was diagnosed about weeks ago that I had it.  The initial test came back in the range that didn't need to be tested again(if that makes any sence) i have since then had blood work and my metabolic came back totally fine.  I guess I should mention I went for testing because I was an iv drug user whoshared needles :( been clean 10 months 22 days and my energy level suckkssssa.  Varies from day to day but I could just feel something wasn't right.  So went and got tested for everything.  He can came back positive.  My genotype came back inconclusive...  And my viral load isn't back yet.  Sooo.. It's been a while.   Tested 25 of Jan.  Not sure what to do... What vitamins to take or anything.  No insurance so I can't just go to doctor all the time... How long do I have to wait for my viral load???  No genotype????  Vitamins???  Not insurance???  No energy????  Ahhhh.  Helppppp :)

[ActingBrandNew]

"My genotype came back inconclusive... "

Sometimes that happens when the viral load is very low. Another possibility could be the lab made an error when they collected the sample. I would have the test repeated and maybe at a different lab.

It is also my understanding that when people have been infected with multiple genotypes they can't always determine genotype.

"These data suggest that frequent exposure to HCV could contribute significantly to increased viral diversity and cell tropism within an individual and might also result in variants that would not be readily detected should only serum/plasma be evaluated by a clinical HCV genotype assay and not by a robust, multicompartment sequencing approach. "

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/195/4/519.full
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If you just got tested Jan 25th...it has been 9 days. Viral loads will take longer than a regular CBC and CMP. Give it some time. I recently had my VL checked. The blood was drawn the same day you had yours (Jan 25th) and my results still aren't in yet. It should be in this week.

If you can afford insurance, there is a gov program called the Pre Existing Condition Plan. Its a PPO...great coverage. I got it when I got denied insurance because of my HCV. They cover EVERYTHING.

https://www.pcip.gov/

If you cant afford insurance, there are ways to get your meds for free.
Call a program called PEGAssist. You'll find them at www.pegasys.com or call 1-877-734-2797
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CONGRATS on the clean time!!!!! That's great! Now its time to heal the body. Wish you well.

[ceanothus]

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you've had the HCV PCR test, rather than just the antibody test. A positive AB test only means that you've been exposed and have 80% odds of active viral infection, whereas the PCR test verifies an active viral infection. It should certainly be able to give your viral load though. They don't usually say "positive" but rather either "DET" (detected) or "UND" (undetected) followed by a number, which is your viral load. The genotype is determined in a different test. I've heard that it can be difficult to determine if the viral load is very small - I don't know if that's true or not. I actually don't understand a number of things in your email and I wonder if you could post the exact wording of your lab results?

There are no special vitamins to take and no special dietary restrictions other than to avoid alcohol like the plague. If you take a multiple vitamin try to take one without iron. There are a lot of supplements out there, some of which are thought to reduce inflammation in the liver, but the most important things are avoiding alcohol, eating healthy food and getting exercise until the time is right for you to go on treatment to eliminate the virus. When to treat is more complicated and we would need more info about you to say much about that.