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Please help with lab results
My boyfriend has chronic Hepatitis C. I got tested in August 2012 with these results. Hep C Virus Ab <0.1, s/co ratio 0.0-0.9, Negative 0.9. I am so scared. My OB/GYN ordered the hepatitis panel; I don't know if he knows how to read the results? Do I need to get re-tested? Please help, I can't quit worrying about this.
That last part of the test result is nothing to worry about – it is part of a normal test result. I'm not exactly sure what it means but here is my best attempt at figuring it out: your levels are below 0.1 on a test that can accurately measure 0.0 - 0.9. Results of below 0.8 are negative, 0.8 - 0.9 are indeterminate, and above 0.9 are positive. You are way down there, so there is no need to worry at all.
As to being retested, it depends on whether you were tested for a reason. It can take the body a couple of months after exposure to develop the antibodies, so if you were tested because of a possible blood to blood exposure, and if that exposure was within the last couple of months prior to your test, then you should be retested after a couple more months, or some suggest six months after exposure. If you don't have any known risk factors then you don't need to be retested. Your boyfriend is not a risk for you himself, but if you share drug paraphernalia it is a huge risk. There is also some small risk with sharing toothbrushes and grooming tools (especially razors or nail clippers). My hepatologist advises that monogamous couples do not need to use condoms for vaginal sex unless they have open cuts or sores or are engaging in activities so vigorous that they might cause bleeding. Thinking about all of the above should guide you to your answer about whether to retest or not. BTW, I had Hepatitis C for 28 years and my husband has never caught it from me, even though we didn't even know I had it for many of those years and weren't careful about anything.
I love ceanothus too, and am a bit of a fanatic about all native plants. I'm glad to meet a fellow lover of natives! Best wishes!
As to being retested, it depends on whether you were tested for a reason. It can take the body a couple of months after exposure to develop the antibodies, so if you were tested because of a possible blood to blood exposure, and if that exposure was within the last couple of months prior to your test, then you should be retested after a couple more months, or some suggest six months after exposure. If you don't have any known risk factors then you don't need to be retested. Your boyfriend is not a risk for you himself, but if you share drug paraphernalia it is a huge risk. There is also some small risk with sharing toothbrushes and grooming tools (especially razors or nail clippers). My hepatologist advises that monogamous couples do not need to use condoms for vaginal sex unless they have open cuts or sores or are engaging in activities so vigorous that they might cause bleeding. Thinking about all of the above should guide you to your answer about whether to retest or not. BTW, I had Hepatitis C for 28 years and my husband has never caught it from me, even though we didn't even know I had it for many of those years and weren't careful about anything.
I love ceanothus too, and am a bit of a fanatic about all native plants. I'm glad to meet a fellow lover of natives! Best wishes!
2 Comments
Hello I have a question too. I got some test results and this is what they say Hep C virus Ab 0.2 (0.0-0.9 s/co ratio) what does that mean I'm scared
This is a very old post ,however I will answer your query here.
You had the anti-bodies test for Hepc and anything reading <1 is considered negative,
You do not have HepC given that result.
You had the anti-bodies test for Hepc and anything reading <1 is considered negative,
You do not have HepC given that result.
Don't know if my other email went through. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge SO much, thank you. I guess what had me so scared was the Indeterminate 0.8 - 0.9, Positive >0.9. Should I get re checked at intervals to followup? Thank you so much. My significant other is on incivek, ribavirin and interferon therapy and barely hanging in there; we live in different towns so it is really hard. God Bless you, Ceanothus. By the way, that is my favorite plant! I have it on my property as a native plant and it is beautiful and resilient, like you.
I'm sorry about your boyfriend, but calm yourself down. Hepatitis C is only transmitted blood to blood, so if you two aren't sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia, there is almost zero risk of you having gotten it from him. I believe your blood test results are saying Hepatitis C antibodies >0, meaning less than zero, or none. If you have zero antibodies to Hepatitis C then you don't have it AND you have never had it in the past. You are okay!
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