Wow never knew it could’ve as high as 30%
I was diagnosed when I donated blood back in 1990 I’m sure testing was much different then. I never saw that test result my diagnosis was based on the antibody test and slightly elevated liver enzymes. There was no viral load test available at that time. I treated back in like 1993 or 1995 with interferon monotherapy 3 shots a week for 6 months and no other medications. My treatment failure was based on no change in my liver enzymes post treatment. Very much the dark ages of hep c treatment and diagnosis.
Needless to say I very happy we now have very effective treatments. Hopefully soon we will be able to treat and cure everyone with hep c and entirely eliminate the virus.
In health
Lynn
If the number called the S/co on the A B test was very low (but still over 1) it would be considered positive but most likely a False Positive.
This happens fairly frequently as the test is very sensitive and can cross react with other antibodies in your system.
The important thing is that the Quant was neg. therefore you do not have HCV
This would mean you are positive for hepatitis c antibodies which means you were exposed at sometime in the past. However, you test not detected for the hep c virus itself in your blood meaning you do not have any hep c virus circulating in your blood stream and you are not currently infected.
If you were exposed to hep c in the past about 25% of people beat the virus without any treatment. You will test positive for hep c antibodies but not detected for the hep c virus itself.
Antibodies are made by our own bodies immune system when it tries to fight a virus. Having antibodies does not mean you are currently infected.
Once you have antibodies you will always test positive for life. The only way to know if you have hep c antibodies if you are infected is to have the test for the virus itself the HCV RNA by PCR or similar named test.