What is the difference between SVR and undetectable....

[juventus]

Hello

what is the difference between one person who has tested positive for hcv antibodies, positive for RNA, then goes for treatment and achieves SVR

as oppossed to someone who tests positive for HCV antibodies, but tests negative/undetectable for RNA without any treatment.

so it is SVR vs undetectable without having treatment.

[newleaf09]

Marc answered very well.  I would only add that UD (undetectable) means the virus genetic material (RNA) was not detected in the blood once patient cleared during treatment.  SVR refers to Sustained Viral Response - no virus detected in the blood even 6 mos. after the treatment ended.

Antibodies and no virus detected is a great scenario.  He had the virus but his immune system beat it down and rid his blood of it.  Most of us have antibodies to measles, chicken pox, etc.  Once you have a virus the antibodies are there forever. Doesn't mean the virus still exists though.

[Marc1955]

In the former case, the person had chronic HCV and as a result of treatment, the virus is no longer detectable in his bloodstream. There is some debate as to whether this person is  completely cured or not, but most people accept that for more intents and purposes he is.

In the second case, the person was exposed to HCV but does not have the active virus. All that shows up are the antibodies. This can occur because some people successfully clear the virus without treatment. You would not refer to such a person as having SVR. As far as one can tell, they never had the chronic state of the virus.

(Just to complicate things, folks in the former category are also in the second category. Although they have cleared the virus, they will continue to test positive for the antibody.)

[GSDgirl]

You seem to know an awful lot of the terminology.  Have you researched this disease recently?