Anti hcv positive, virus undetectable, new to this

[Runnerdreamer]

A week or so ago I had my annual checkup with my gyno. Because I have been divorced for over a year I asked for an STD panel. I had no reason to believe I had an STD. I just wanted to be responsible. Everything came back clear -except the Elisa, which showed reactive for hep C antibodies. The reactive value was 2.28.Because the antibodies were positive they administered the RNA test-  the result -"current active virus undetectable". My lab note further explained - either patient has had hep c in past and resolved infection or antibody test is a false positive.

Of course I got these results on Friday at 4 and have gone through the weekend on edge and terrified that further testing will show something else not in my favor. I have read dozens of message boards- posts- and I'm aware that I could have a false positive test because I cleared the infection or there were other antibodies within my body causing the result.

I am honestly baffled at this because I am not a " high risk " person. With the exception of 4 sexual partners over the past 15 months- I do not fit into any of the categories of at risk people. 2 of those partners I was in relationships with over several months time span-  and the other two were completely protected using condoms.  There was no " high risk" sexual activity that would cause blood. Also the conflicting information about blood transmission vs other bodily fluids is so confusing. I called a help line staffed by hep C experts because it was the weekend and she said that in order for sexual transmission to occur there would have to be blood to blood- open skin on both people. Besides the studies that show  monogamous married couple can be together for decades and not transmit the virus- further demonstrating that if it was transmitted easily through semen/vaginal fluid a much higher percentage of  married people would be infected. I have had none of that. Other details that may matter- I have hashimotos disease and I know that thyroid disfunction can throw off various labs and the week before my labs I had a typical wintertime upper respiratory infection.. Another note- several years ago before I was divorced in routine labs I had elevated liver enzymes. At the time the dr wanted to repeat them and the second set came back normal so she didn't send me to gastro.  In my heart of hearts I feel like these labs are wrong.

So if the second set of labs confirm neg for active virus - I have no chance of spreading the virus? I know that I need to chill but until I can see my doctor this coming week I'm still going to be on edge.

[Runnerdreamer]

Update: I had labs rechecked yesterday. I was negative for both tests. Even the antibodies... go figure. Thanks to everyone who reassured me. And for anyone reading this because the same happened to you. Don't panic over the antibodies test. Recheck.

[flyinlynn]

Congrats

[hrsepwrguy]

Bottom line is you do not have hep c which means there is no chance of spreading the virus, that's good news, I'm not going to get into whether it was a false positive or prior exposure because it really doesn't matter, however I will say that is a pretty high score on the antibodies test, you have absolutely nothing to worry about as I said above you do not have hep c and even if you are truly antibody positive they are harmless so no worries.

Have a great day

[Runnerdreamer]

Thank you for the reassurance, I'm an athlete in general I run 6 miles a day and since I got this on Friday I haven't been able to move. My mind has gone in every direction. I get it - if you tested for chicken pox antibodies you'd have them despite it clearing decades before. In a way I feel amazingly lucky that I seem to be one of the people who cleared the infection on my own. It's just the scare of having an abnormal result. So currently I'm in a relationship with someone- they are not at risk to contract this?

[flyinlynn]

You do not have the virus your HCV RNA test was negative you can no more transmit the hep c virus you do not have than the chicken pox virus you have antibodies for but do not have chicken pox virus in your blood.

Antibodies are not the virus they are made by your own body in response to coming into contact with a virus. Antibodies are a part of your immune system.

Hep c is not considered to be an STD and sexual transmission is rare. Hep c requires blood to blood contact. Hep c infected blood must enter your blood stream through an open wound.

There are some people who have no idea how they contracted hep c.

Bottom line you do not have hep c as evidenced by your HCV RNA test. You cannot transmit a virus that you do not have.

[Runnerdreamer]

Thanks again for the reassurance, I just want to see my doctor face to face - repeat labs and get a final "all clear" ... let's say I was actively infected when I was having sex with someone over the past year. They transmission rate would still be low given normal sexual intercourse(no blood). I am currently seeing someone and have been we had unprotected sex within days of getting my results.  I also have children and I assume I don't have to get them tested because there has been no blood to blood contact?

[flyinlynn]

While there is a small risk of sexual transmission the CDC does not suggest the use of barrier protection for long term monogamous couple. The risk is greater for those who engage in rough sexual practices (i.e. Blood sports) people who have multiple sex partners and in the presence of HIV.

Household transmission is also very low risk people should avoid sharing personal items like razors, finger nail clippers and tooth brushes.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm


Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public From the CDC

[flyinlynn]

But again your HCV RNA test was not detected so you do not have hep c the test result is definitive.

And hep c requires blood to blood contact. Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream of an uninfected person. Even in the case of a health care worker who experiences an accidental needle stick involving a patient with known hep c the odds of transmission is only about 1.8% Hep c is not easily transmitted if it was anymore people than about 1% of the US population would be infected with hep c