more sensitive pcr

[cruelworld]

i went to labcorp a few months ago to get the more sensitive test
(down to 2) but i didnt do my homework and did not have the actual test code number
for their computer. they automatically just gave me the quantasure plus which only has a sensitivity down to 10.
what a disappointment. quantasure plus, this is their version of the heptimax except only half as sensitive  but same price range. in search of the better test i finally got through to someone at their office and they found the test
listing, its called NGI quantasure, code # 140639. its range is small, 2 million to 2. it is designed for tissue transplant testing. hepatitis patients and their docs dont normally ever request this. it is also twice as expensive a $714. if this exact code is not specified by your doc you will not get this test. maybe ill make it in this week
to get it and if im lucky i can say im more undetectable than you regular blokes!
in the practical world i dont know if this is justified or even meaningful but i know it would make me feel better so thats good enough by itself. it might also be interesting and revealing to see fluctuations between 4, 3, 2 and less then 2. especially towards the end of the shot cycle were the interferon has dissipated from our system. ive never seen anyone on the forum with these test results and they might show us things we can never see from the heptimax down to 5.

[jmjm530]

On the other hand, let's say we were RVR by normal TMA (<5) at week 4 and had a projected 90 per cent of SVR. And then let's say we did a 10 vial test like HR mentioned and found out we were still detectible but somewhere well below 1 IU/ml. The question now becomes what do we do? Do we amp up the meds and/or extend assuming we're in that 10% who will relapse? Because there's no data developed, there is no way to make the call. It might be the right strategy, or it might turn out that a significant majority of those who are let's say TMA negative but ten vial positive (tvp) at week 4 will end up SVR anyway. It may even turn out that even out that most are intermittently tvp throughout tx, meaning someone ten vial negative at week 4 may turn out to be tvp at week 8. So, until actual studies are done, hard to know what to do with the data, as I am sure "Willing" will agree if reading this, since that has been his argument against sensitive TMA testing all along -- although now we do have studies to support its use -- normal TMA's that is.

That said, future studies such as using ten vials could turn out to be predictive, and being more predictive of SVR at various points of treatment would be a significant achievement, and in addition to vl test predictors, there are also T-cell predictors that I've heard could also offer the answers, pending more research. Of course, the greatest predictor of all would be a predictor pre-treatment, such as the genetic markers being studied, i.e. pre-treatment, what our chances of SVR are (if any) or how long we might hve to dose.

One question of course is will this research actually be done in such a fast changing treatment landscape or will it probably be eclipsed by the fast moving PI's and other add-ons which may eventually deliver us such significantly better treatments (very high SVR rates in very little time) that all the rest of this becomes academic. In other words, SOC predictors will probably be relevant only with SOC.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Pro,

You make some good points, but I think imbedded in the question is a valid call for earlier sensitive viral load treatment where perhaps something more can be done. My guess is that in the EOT study all the EOT PCR negative/TMA positives, relapsed -- y guess is that this sub group was probably TMA positive either all along, or certainly intermittently throughout tx and would have been picked up much earlier with monthly TMA's.

Cruel,

In addition to removing the program, I thought I manually deleted every bookmark, and backup bookmark file from the computer. I didn't just use the "search" function this time but went back through the path you have me -- and other paths, to do the deletion. That only leaves three possiblities: (1) I missed a deletion; (2) Clicking on my re-named bookmark file somehow started Firefox (didn't the first few times) and firefox then somehow accepted the re-named bookmark file as default (I've never seen this happen when clicking on a desktop bookmark file); or (3) Your powers are still intact. Anyway, thanks again for the help, Firefox is working shaper than ever with the reinstall.

-- Jim

[Proactive]

"The really important question here is, if a VL detected at or close to EOT with a supersensitive test is a valid predictor of upcoming relapse and if such a predictor could then be used to prolong or extend SOC or add some  antiviral pressure to avoid this outcome in a substantial % of so detected patients. How many relapses we could avoid this way of course depends on the means to further suppress and the susceptibility of the remaining HCVs."
This does make sense to me, although in my case, being a 72 weeker already, I'm not sure the benefit is so high. I guess I have no idea what change of course at my eot would be beneficial to my attempted outcome..Would I push on further in weeks? Do a double down dose of tx drugs? Add Alinia? Try and procure a PI and add to the mix? Switch to infergen or change pegs? Unfortunately I wouldn't have many options available..Seems to me that after 72 weeks, you either are or aren't svr period, and there isn't much to be done at that point, but stop and regroup.
granted there does appear to be benefit for deciding to extend past 24 or 48 weeks. Have you had trouble billing insurance co.'s for these >2 tests?
I will see if I can get one for my eot test out of curiosity, but don't see what it will change in my case..
Thanks for all your input here hr
Pro

[cruelworld]

if you asked me to do that a few years ago i could have helped.  i used to have those kinds of powers but naturally i abused them and god took them away.
it was a sad day in the life of cruelworld!
now for the truth (something of which i am not famous for giving out)
im guessing that your reinstall fixed whatever problem you might have had even though it didnt appear to work at first.
these programs have different ways of "starting" or "opening up"  whether you normally started firefox from a desktop shortcut, or an internet address. or the start menu, each one is a different start button so to speak. for some reason the start button you were using was just not working right at that time.
just like trying different "open with" options for the bookmark files
sometimes one works but the other doesnt. you keep trying until one works.
when you double clicked on your bookmark file for some reason it worked as a good start button and firefox started normally and properly. if there were other problems still existing, the program senses them and self corrects. but only if something triggers the program to have at least a 90% proper start.
your backup bookmark files that i took you to see were there all along unaltered and in a safe separate place and never bothered by the reinstalls or other problems. the fact that you went manually to them and looked at them directly and backed them up didnt mean anything. to firefox.
i just wanted you to make sure they were still there and intact.
once the program was able to start properly it went directly to that login profile area and found the right one one and loaded it for regular use. it does this everytime it starts. computers programs can self correct more often than you think and the reinstalls may not have been needed.  if you know the three of four different types of start buttons you can straighten things out pretty easily sometimes. havent you heard the stories of someone coming out and all they did was reboot and it all magically worked.
i dont know much about stocks but does she look good?

cruelworld over and out

[jmjm530]

But seriously, this is the only explanation. The resolution defies all logic. You probably are able to discern my stock portfolio. Can we do something about it? And what about that young lady I was speaking to earlier today. Can you put in  a word.

[cruelworld]

from what you described, i bet it all works like new from now on.
normally, my pyschic powers only bring pain, suffering and annoyance to others, i guess god is punishing me by allowing this beneficial telepathic event to happen, if this keeps up, my reputation here on earth will be ruined forever!