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11789418 tn?1434386842

Total percentage of HCV?

Hi all hope you all are fine.. Actually, i need some information about deducting Total percentage of HCV through report of RNA PCR test.. On which three percentages are mention, and the Pakistani Doctors does not tell propperly about total percentage. The three percentages are, 15, 19 and 37.. Is is dangerous stage or not? Please guide me about it..
May GOD bless you all and give you relief from this disease...
Best Answer
683231 tn?1467323017
Hi and welcome

I have never seen viral load as a percentage. The result range is 15 to 100,000,000 IU/mL (1.18 log to 8.00 log IU/mL) for quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum.

Could the result have said HVC RNA >15 IU/mL detected? That is not a percentage that is how many units of virus found in 1 mL of blood sample. If that is your HCV RNA by PCR result you have a vey low viral load but you do have hep c.

Could you please post exactly what your report says including the name of the test?

One viral load is no more dangerous per say than another any viral load means you have hepatitis c and need to be treated.

Are you sure you had a viral load test? Is it possible you had a hepatitis c antibody test?

Having a positive antibody test does not mean you are currently infected with hep c it only means you were once exposed. The only way to know if you are currently infected is to have the viral load test it is called the HCV RNA by PCR.

Good luck
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Avatar universal
You are correct. Fibroscan is not widely available. But fibrospect, fibrosure and the other blood assays, along with physical exam and markers such as low platelets, are as good as biopsies now, according to Dr. Jacobson. When biopsies were the only choice to access fibrosis and stage the liver disease, we dealt with the 30% sampling error. But we don't have to do that any more. If biopsy was totally risk free, it would be great to use it with the serum assays, but it is not risk free for late stage people. I think what Dr. Jacobson was saying is that with all the other tests available now, there is enough information about a person's histology to make the biopsy, with it's 30% failure rate, an unnecessary risk.
Helpful - 0
2059648 tn?1439766665
There is one in Dallas.  Total for Texas....5.   Fibroscan isn't widely available.

http://www.fibroscan502touch.com/find-a-facility

Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
Interesting.  I didn't know fibroscans were widely available.  I don't believe they have a machine in my community.  They may have one in Dallas but since I cleared, I am out of the loop on a lot of this.

frijole
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Biopsy is not standard of care any more according to one of our country's top hepatologists, Dr. Ira Jacobson from Cornell. He says he has not done one in six months and has no plans to do them in the future on his HCV patients. The blood assays and/or fibroscan are more than adequate and the results are just as good now as a biopsy and a lot less risky.
Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
Just one comment, and that is that my liver enzymes were always in the normal range too, even when i was diagnosed with early cirrhosis.  Blood tests are just not enough.  
frijole
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
As the others have said viral load does not relate to extent of liver damage. It only means you have hepatitis cnothing about how much liver damage there is.

When you said "My father's liver test is normal," what do yo umean are you referring to his liver function profile his ALT AST scores? That can also be much like viral load in that it does not indicat how much liver damage may exist sone have normal or only slightly elevated ALT AST tests but extensive liver damage while others have high liver enzymes and little liver damage.

Has he had a liver biopsy? An abdominal ultrasound? An MRI? Fibroscan? Fibrosure test? Any one of those would be at least helpful to know the current status of his liver.

Are his platelet counts at normal levels?

Pleadse explain what you mean when you said "My father's liver test is normal,"

Best of luck to you
Lynn
Helpful - 0
2059648 tn?1439766665
I'm sorry your worried about your father's viral load.   A viral load is only important when your father treats his hepatitis C.   Other than that you shouldn't be concerned.   If your father treats his hepatitis C and his viral load goes down then you know the treatment is working.    When the viral load is gone for six months after treatment.....there is no more hepatitis C.   Other than than you have no reason to be concerned.

I hope this helps

Helpful - 0
11789418 tn?1434386842
My father's liver test is normal, his liver is working normally.. That is why, I'm just worrying about viral load.. Thank you for your kind suggestions..
God bless you...
Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
Reading these posts and your replies, I am not sure you understand the risk.  You cannot be given a percent of the virus or a percent of illness.  The issue is the damage to the liver and you do not know that until there is a liber biopsy where the tissue is examined.  Will your father be able to get one of these?

As members have said, your father has a low viral load.  However, there are members here who have cirrhosis with a low viral loads and there are members whose viral loads are in the millions who are not cirrhotic. (cirrhsis is when the cells in the liver die and at a certain stage the liver cannot recover from this damage )

If he does not get a biopsy some information can be gathered from blood tests. Check out this website for some of the important blood tests.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/looking-at-liver-function-bloodwork.html

Again, you don't know the critical nature of the illness from the viral load.  Don't let a doctor tell you there is no concern because the viral load is low.  My opinon is to treat before the damage is great.  Please pursue this.
frijole
Helpful - 0
11789418 tn?1434386842

Thank you very much for you reply ma'm.. I was worrying about my father's health therefore, want to know the Total percentage of viruses..
Helpful - 0
11789418 tn?1434386842
Thank you for reply ma'm...
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
75968 IU/mL means you have 75938 international units per mililiter of blood it is not a percentage it is a quantity per volumn.

Think number of apples in a 100 gallon barrel as an example.

And yes you have a very low viral load.

No worries see your doctor, get treated, get cured

Lynn
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There is no percentage ever given. You have a low viral load. How high or low a viral load is does not give you any information about how sick you are or what your prognosis is. With the new drugs just about everyone gets cured. Do not panic. You will be fine.
Helpful - 0
11789418 tn?1434386842
Thank you for giving reply.. Now I received full report but still, i am unable to calculate total percentage of the virus..
The report says, there is:
                    75968 IU/ml  
and The number of copies of virus is : 151937/ml.

Now, please how much percentage is it? And is it a critical condition or not.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Demand they explain it to you. It's a life threatening disease. Get all your questions answered from your doctor. Ask what is the viral load and what Geno type is it?
Helpful - 0
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