1a then 1b now??

[mcmcorp45]

Quick question for everyone. How sensitive is the genotype test? I was always told I have Hep-c 1a. Just today while my PCP was looking over a recent blood test that was ordered by my new Hepatologist it said I was type 1B. So obviously he sent me for another test to confirm. But I know anything is possible but does this happen often to get two diffrent readings???

Thanks.

[nygirl7]

I was diagnosed with 1A and 1B - really you treat it the same way as if you only have one type.  I refused to believe that in my head and took way too many meds and was left with some problems afterwards but that was my own ignorance.

Even if you had 1 and 2 you'd still treat as it if was just the 1.

Don't let it freak you out. Of course it could be lab / doctor error anyway.

[chemister]

I get the genotype message that I had geno 1 and 2. They could not always see 1a and 1b (maybe It’s the virus mutation? or they are very similar?) also the quality to the PCR...

[Bill1954]

You may have two subtypes of HCV; this isn’t uncommon. This links to a Canadian study by Saskatchewan Health, and published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1248436/

“…Among HCV-infected Canadians, mixed genotypes have been found in 8% of HCV-positive blood donors, 14% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 17% of thalassemia patients who had received multiple transfusions (7). Thus, the need for HCV genotyping assays able to accurately detect mixed infections is warranted by the appreciable occurrence of such infections and their potential impact on the patient response to antiviral treatment…”

I believe that multiple genotype/subtype infections include a dominant genotype; and I’m unsure that it creates any additional challenges because of this. Either way, you’ll be managed as genotype 1.

Bill