When to have final HCV test ?

[Nothingstoxic]

I have Hep-C,genotype 3. Going for my final shot of Pegasys on Tuesday(25th).Can any1 plz tell me-
1)When should i have my HCV-RNA test done- after one week or before?
2)When should i stop taking Riba tabs?

Regards,

Monty

[Trish77]

When you take your interferon shot, it stays in the body for 7 days.  Therefore, taking your ribavirin for the last 7 days after your injection makes that interferon effective at it's full potential as it's working together with the ribavirin rather than on it's own.  The daily dosages for that duration of 7 days simply keeps up the maximum effectiveness.

[Dennisdrl1]

Generally a viral PCR is obtained after the last dose of Interferon.  If the virus is non-detectable it is termed a positive end of treatment response. However, the gold standard for judging success is if the virus remains non-detectable six months later; if so, this is termed a sustained viral response which translates into a 98% chance of successfully cleared the virus.

[iwillbeatthis]

well doesn't it make sense that when you take your last shot, then you would follow that with the week of Riba since the last shot marks the start of your last week?
isn't that what everybody did?

also, I was going to have the 24 VL test on the day after my last Riba, that would mark my EOT, did others test then in addition to a month after tx?

[nygirl7]

I dont really know but most all of us have been told do to the full course of treatment. I stopped a few days early but figured after 72 weeks of the stuff I was as saturated as I was going to get.

Did you do 24 or 48?

[babs824]

my doc is ending my riba and peg on same day. should i be concerned. it is after 6 packets of riba interferon which has 4 shots and 4 weeks pills each.(total24 meds) i wonder if there is a margin of safety by asking for a week more? i really dont want to of course esp cuz of rash but i have come this far...thanks so much NT and deb, babs

[Nothingstoxic]

Thx for ur Advise :)

[nygirl7]

Take the riba for the following remaining six days.
I got my end of treatment PCRs one month after then six months then a year after the six months.

Good luck congrats on completing  the course!