Fortunately, my HMO has never found the need to approve any blood test by PCP has ordered for me, so I should be able to get the PCR. However, I will keep in mind that if push comes to shove, I can ask for an antibody test to finally get some ACCURATE info!! Thanks so much for your very knowlegdeable input--it helps so much!
I agree with you GreatBird. The antibody test is much cheaper and the HMO would be more likely to approve that over a PCR.
I would use a antibody test first since geila does not know exactly what type of hepatitis she may have been exposed to or if it is viral hepatitis and she did state they do offer the antibody test according to her lab requisition.
My understanding is that a diagnosis of non-A non-B hepatitis simply meant someone had hepatitis that wasn't A or B. Now it is true that non-A non-B came to be known as hep C, but if you had other toxic exposure it's very possible you didn't have Hep A, B, or C.
All you really need to do is have an antibody test to see if you ever had exposure for hep C. If that test comes back positive you can be further tested to see if you have the virus.
WOW--what a great website! I have only opened a couple of the topics & I can already tell this is going to be of tremendous help--THANKS SO MUCH!!
Gelia
Gelia,
I haven’t seen this mentioned in the thread yet; if you haven’t seen this, please take a look at the site “Janis and Friends’; I’ll link you to their page for newly diagnosed:
http://janis7hepc.com/have_you_been_just_diagnosed.htm
Scroll down that page, and be sure to review any topics of interest in the column in the right-hand side of the page titled ‘other HCV information’; this covers topics like biopsy, blood tests, fibrosis, etc.
This should make things much easier for you to understand… it helped me immensely when I was initially diagnosed.
Best to you—
Bill
HI again! I will take your exact wording to my doctor. Actually the "Hep C Ab+" test that I mentioned to Trish hasn't been ordered...it's just a test that can be requested from the lab, as can any of the ones I mentioned to her. The only test actually requested on the lab slip I have right now is another AFP.
You've given me so much great info & encouragement--thank you so much. I'll let you know the outcome.
Gelia