Aa
Confused
Hello all!
So back in 2012, at my routine check up, my hep C test came back "reactive". This was my first time ever hearing of such thing. I had a baby in 2007 and have always stayed up on my doctor visits and never heard such results. So, my doctor sent me to a GI specialist and he performed a series of follow up tests. He called me in May of 2012 to inform me that I had a false-positive hep C test with a RIBA test at that time being indeterminate and a viral load "non detected". He also said I had not been exposed to hep A or B either. My ANA at this time was negative as well. After his results were reported, I breathed a sigh of relief! In 2013 my blood work was fine (liver tests were normal). However, at my 2014 routine check up, my liver enzymes were elevated and in my most recent June 2015 check up, my hep C antibody test came back "reactive" again. What does all this mean? Please help me, I'm new to this forum. :-(
Thanks
So back in 2012, at my routine check up, my hep C test came back "reactive". This was my first time ever hearing of such thing. I had a baby in 2007 and have always stayed up on my doctor visits and never heard such results. So, my doctor sent me to a GI specialist and he performed a series of follow up tests. He called me in May of 2012 to inform me that I had a false-positive hep C test with a RIBA test at that time being indeterminate and a viral load "non detected". He also said I had not been exposed to hep A or B either. My ANA at this time was negative as well. After his results were reported, I breathed a sigh of relief! In 2013 my blood work was fine (liver tests were normal). However, at my 2014 routine check up, my liver enzymes were elevated and in my most recent June 2015 check up, my hep C antibody test came back "reactive" again. What does all this mean? Please help me, I'm new to this forum. :-(
Thanks
Hi. Exposure is not what makes you have a false positive or an antibody test that is slightly reactive. Your body is reacting to something and thinks it is the hep C virus. I wouldn't worry that you have been exposed.
Liver enzymes can be elevated if you had an alcoholic beverage even a few days before. Tylenol or any of the NSAIDs can do it. Vigorous exercise can do it. Antibiotics can, too. My best advise would be to have another HCV/RNA and I bet it will be undetected. Best wishes to you.
Liver enzymes can be elevated if you had an alcoholic beverage even a few days before. Tylenol or any of the NSAIDs can do it. Vigorous exercise can do it. Antibiotics can, too. My best advise would be to have another HCV/RNA and I bet it will be undetected. Best wishes to you.
First, I would like to thank you all for your responses to my question. I really appreciate it. I'm not exactly sure how far out of range my enzyme levels were; my dr said "slightly elevated". Again, the GI specialist informed me back in 2012 that there was no viral load detected and that my ANA was negative as well. He said that I wasn't even exposed to the virus but apparently I was at some point if my hep C keeps coming back "reactive". All of this is still new to me; the lingo and all is very confusing. :-( I'm hoping that I was simply exposed at some point and my body fought off the disease. That's what it sounds like to me. What is the likelihood of this? However, I will keep you all posted.
I really have nothing to add to what Mac & DWBH sais - they civered it all, except, welcome to the Forum!
You will find good, caring, knowledgeable, supportive people here.
do have the Viral Load (HCV RNA PCR) test and the Genotype test and let us know the results. Like Mac, I expect that you only have the antibody, and once you have that, you will always have it, but do not have Hep C.
PS as DWBH said, it is a good idea to have the Hep A and Hep B vaccines.
Welcome, again.
Pat
You will find good, caring, knowledgeable, supportive people here.
do have the Viral Load (HCV RNA PCR) test and the Genotype test and let us know the results. Like Mac, I expect that you only have the antibody, and once you have that, you will always have it, but do not have Hep C.
PS as DWBH said, it is a good idea to have the Hep A and Hep B vaccines.
Welcome, again.
Pat
mac790 gave a great answer. You did say your doctor tested you for A and B. Thats pretty common when testing for Hep C. You don't want to have Hep A or B and Hep C. It has some very bad results if you have more than one type. But remember that Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is preventable and its to your benefit to go get the shots to prevent get A or B. There is not shot to prevent Hep C.
As mac790 said, " find out if you have a viral load." No viral load means you don't have hepatitis C. Also, meaning you wouldn't have a genotype. If you don't have a viral load or a genotype…..you don't have hepatitis C.
AST and ALT go up and down for many different reasons. Exercise can
cause this. Also, you could have been exposed to Hepatitis C and cleared the virus on your own. In that case you would test positive for Hepatitis C for the rest of your life……even tho you don't have Hepatitis C.
Find out if you have a viral load and let us know the results
As mac790 said, " find out if you have a viral load." No viral load means you don't have hepatitis C. Also, meaning you wouldn't have a genotype. If you don't have a viral load or a genotype…..you don't have hepatitis C.
AST and ALT go up and down for many different reasons. Exercise can
cause this. Also, you could have been exposed to Hepatitis C and cleared the virus on your own. In that case you would test positive for Hepatitis C for the rest of your life……even tho you don't have Hepatitis C.
Find out if you have a viral load and let us know the results
Hello-- If I may ask, how far out of the normal range were your enzymes? You may be getting some conflicting data--- if you were exposed to the HCV, you would have measurable antibodies. Even if the infection lay dormant for 20 years before kicking into an active phase, your immune system would have recognized the inturder and formed antibodies. The best way I think to get to the bottom of this is to ask for a genotype determination, and a viral titer ( how many IU of virus per ml of blood). Most labs consider below 15 IU/ml as "not detectable" If you do indeed have the HCV, they should be able to ascertain the genotype ( GT1, and 1a, are the most common in North America), and get a measurable viral load ( titer). I had mine for so long the virus back then was called "Non A, Non B Hepatitis". The good news is, if you do indeed have it ( I would wager aginst it), most everyone on this forum has been successfully treated with the new generation of HCV drugs ( Harvoni, Sovaldi, mine was cured in a Merck clinical trial of a drug to be available this year). Cure rates are well above 95% for most GTs, and carry a very, very low relapse rate. Please get further testing and let us know. mac
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