Understanding my labs

[Wendyjazz]

I was just found out last week I have hep C. Today I got copies of my labs. Was hoping someone could help me understand the results. It says positive 9,540 IU / ml and 3.98 Log 10 . Where am I on the chart? Low med high what? Thanks for your time.

[Wendyjazz]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate your time. I have a lot to learn about this.

[Wendyjazz]

Thank you very much for your time.

[pooh55811]

Oops, forgot this part.

You have a low viral low.

[pooh55811]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

"What Is a High and Low Viral Load?
A high viral load is usually higher than 800,000 IU/L. This means you have around 2 million copies or more of virus in your blood. A low viral load is usually lower than 800,000 IU/L. However, this is a general guideline and may be defined differently in certain people.

Laboratories standardize viral load results into international units (IUs), which allows you to compare a viral load result from one laboratory to that from another. A viral load of 800,000 IU/L doesn't mean you have 800,000 copies of virus; rather, you have 800,000 standardized units of virus per liter of blood. The actual number of virus copies may be higher or lower. For example a viral load of 50 to 100 copies per mililiter would be equivalent to 25 to 50 IU/mL."

http://hepatitis.about.com/od/diagnosis/a/ViralLoad.htm

[Ironpony]

You are not on the chart yet. Either am I, but that really is meaningless when it comes down to damage. only a liver biopsy can tell you that.

welcome and best wishes
Laura

[Wendyjazz]

I don't know yet. They will test me on mon for genotype. I noticed a chart starting at 200,000 and higher. Where would I be on that chart?

[Ironpony]

That's very low. but they can often fluctuate as well. What is your genotype? With type 1's the VL do not really matter as much because they are now using PI's.