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Hepatitis C positive Am I contagious to my boyfriend
I tested positive for hep C back in 2016. I repeated the test because I thought it was a false positive. Well it came back positive again in April 2018 with this reading: HCV RNA Quantitative PCR
<15 not detected
<1.18 not detected
I am sooo scared that I can pass this to my boyfriend he doesn’t know I am positive for hep C We barely started talking, we haven’t had sex but there’s a lot of kissing, lip biting, French kisses. He bits my lips hard that the other day I bleed. Can he get hep C if he swallowed by blood?
Please help.
<15 not detected
<1.18 not detected
I am sooo scared that I can pass this to my boyfriend he doesn’t know I am positive for hep C We barely started talking, we haven’t had sex but there’s a lot of kissing, lip biting, French kisses. He bits my lips hard that the other day I bleed. Can he get hep C if he swallowed by blood?
Please help.
You actually tested “negative” for HCV.
You do not have the virus.
The <15 is just that labs method of reporting that there is No Virus Detected.
You do not have the virus.
The <15 is just that labs method of reporting that there is No Virus Detected.
13 Comments
I also agree with willbb.
“Not detected” means you do not have hep c
“Not detected” means you do not have hep c
Thank you for both of your responses. So if I don’t have the virus I am not putting in danger my boyfriend/ family members? Am I able to share personal stuff like for example a razor, towels, cups, share drinks .. ???
You don’t have the virus. You have nothing to transmit. You cannot transmit an illness you do not have.
Sharing of personal hygiene products like razors that can have blood on them is not a good idea in general for anyone.
Sharing of towels, cups, drinks is not a hep c risk which in any even is not s concern for you since you don’t have hep c. Your only risk is sharing a cold or flu by doing those things.
Sharing of personal hygiene products like razors that can have blood on them is not a good idea in general for anyone.
Sharing of towels, cups, drinks is not a hep c risk which in any even is not s concern for you since you don’t have hep c. Your only risk is sharing a cold or flu by doing those things.
In other words, you are not in a different position than anyone else out there.
Just follow best practices that any other person in normal good health would do as regarding this situation at least, you are a person with no known medical conditions.
Just follow best practices that any other person in normal good health would do as regarding this situation at least, you are a person with no known medical conditions.
From medical daily web site six items you should never share general advice for all people:
“Here are a few of the no-share items:
1. Toothbrush
To some, this might seem gross, but many couples, both married and dating have admitted to sharing their partner’s toothbrush. Research from UkBathrooms.com found that British couples admitted to sharing a toothbrush: “26 percent of respondents did with 70 percent of them stating that they didn’t see it as ‘unhygienic.’ Plus, 56 percent claimed that they had shared the same toothbrush for more than a year.”
However, sharing a toothbrush can cause a number of issues, and it’s actually quite unhygienic. According to the American Dental Association, sharing a toothbrush could result in an increase of infections. This is riskier for people who have compromised immune systems of existing infectious diseases.
2. Razors
This one might not seem as obvious because you’re just using it across your skin, right? Wrong. Razors can spread infections such as warts, folliculitis, or jock itch — even if there is no cut present. You’ll also get a better shave if you use your own. “A good rule of thumb is to replace the blade after five to 10 uses, and you'll be able to keep track more efficiently if you have a blade that's all your own,” said Dr. Jeanie Chung Leddon, Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology, in a WebMD magazine feature.
3. Towels
Towel sharing of any kind is a big no-no, even if the towel was just used after stepping out of the shower. Bacteria such as staph infection bacteria can live on the towel for a few hours, days, or even months. This is probably longer for a towel, since it has the ability to retain moisture and other bacteria, too. Change your towels at least once a week, hang them to dry in an open space, and never share them with anyone — not even family members.
4. Soap
While bar soap does seem to be self-cleaning, the bar can still hold bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends liquid soap over bar soap, but if you love using a bar, get your own. In a 2006 study, researchers found that soap was a source of continuous reinfection in dental clinics. “It could be because bars of soap don't usually dry all the way between uses, especially on the bottom, leading to an accumulation of bacteria, fungi, and yeast that can be passed from person to person,” Neal Schultz, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, told The Huffington Post.
5. Combs/ Brushes
Combs can spread a number of diseases such as head lice, scabies, and sometimes even a staph infection. Even people in families should not share hairbrushes. However, sharing hair brushes is hard not to do, especially when you visit the salon or barber, but make sure they use some sort of sanitizer before running anything though your hair. You should also clean your personal brushes, fill a bowl with anti-bacterial soap and water, and soak your brushes for about an hour or so. Rinse thoroughly and repeat this process every two weeks.
6. Deodorant
Yuck! Why would you want someone else’s perspiration on you anyway, right? Well, some couples actually share everything, including their deodorant. Sweating breaks down the sweat in your skin. There is, however, a difference between using a roll-on and a stick. According to Dr. Schulz, “with a deodorant stick, he says, you can transfer skin cells and hair, which plays to some people's lower threshold for the gross, but won't result in infection.” A roll-on deodorant has the ability to transfer more bacteria because of its sticky quality. “
“Here are a few of the no-share items:
1. Toothbrush
To some, this might seem gross, but many couples, both married and dating have admitted to sharing their partner’s toothbrush. Research from UkBathrooms.com found that British couples admitted to sharing a toothbrush: “26 percent of respondents did with 70 percent of them stating that they didn’t see it as ‘unhygienic.’ Plus, 56 percent claimed that they had shared the same toothbrush for more than a year.”
However, sharing a toothbrush can cause a number of issues, and it’s actually quite unhygienic. According to the American Dental Association, sharing a toothbrush could result in an increase of infections. This is riskier for people who have compromised immune systems of existing infectious diseases.
2. Razors
This one might not seem as obvious because you’re just using it across your skin, right? Wrong. Razors can spread infections such as warts, folliculitis, or jock itch — even if there is no cut present. You’ll also get a better shave if you use your own. “A good rule of thumb is to replace the blade after five to 10 uses, and you'll be able to keep track more efficiently if you have a blade that's all your own,” said Dr. Jeanie Chung Leddon, Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology, in a WebMD magazine feature.
3. Towels
Towel sharing of any kind is a big no-no, even if the towel was just used after stepping out of the shower. Bacteria such as staph infection bacteria can live on the towel for a few hours, days, or even months. This is probably longer for a towel, since it has the ability to retain moisture and other bacteria, too. Change your towels at least once a week, hang them to dry in an open space, and never share them with anyone — not even family members.
4. Soap
While bar soap does seem to be self-cleaning, the bar can still hold bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends liquid soap over bar soap, but if you love using a bar, get your own. In a 2006 study, researchers found that soap was a source of continuous reinfection in dental clinics. “It could be because bars of soap don't usually dry all the way between uses, especially on the bottom, leading to an accumulation of bacteria, fungi, and yeast that can be passed from person to person,” Neal Schultz, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, told The Huffington Post.
5. Combs/ Brushes
Combs can spread a number of diseases such as head lice, scabies, and sometimes even a staph infection. Even people in families should not share hairbrushes. However, sharing hair brushes is hard not to do, especially when you visit the salon or barber, but make sure they use some sort of sanitizer before running anything though your hair. You should also clean your personal brushes, fill a bowl with anti-bacterial soap and water, and soak your brushes for about an hour or so. Rinse thoroughly and repeat this process every two weeks.
6. Deodorant
Yuck! Why would you want someone else’s perspiration on you anyway, right? Well, some couples actually share everything, including their deodorant. Sweating breaks down the sweat in your skin. There is, however, a difference between using a roll-on and a stick. According to Dr. Schulz, “with a deodorant stick, he says, you can transfer skin cells and hair, which plays to some people's lower threshold for the gross, but won't result in infection.” A roll-on deodorant has the ability to transfer more bacteria because of its sticky quality. “
Thank you for all the information you have provided and your knowledge about hepC
But should I go to the dr so that I keep an eye on my liver enzymes . Should I go to the de? And if I plan to get pregnant do I need to tell my doctor about being hep C?
I am soo worried about this
But should I go to the dr so that I keep an eye on my liver enzymes . Should I go to the de? And if I plan to get pregnant do I need to tell my doctor about being hep C?
I am soo worried about this
You don’t have hep c you never had hep c you are totally healthy there is nothing to monitor no testing required and nothing to report to your doctor.
I looked at some of your earlier posts and I guess you may have tested positive for hep c antibodies in the past. Hep c antibodies are not the virus. Having hep c antibodies means you may have been exposed in the past or it could be a false positive. That is why you need to have the HCV RNA by PCR test to find out if you are actually infected.
Your HCV RNA tests were not detected meaning you have no hepatitis C virus in your blood stream. Which means you do not have hepatitis C and no further testing is needed.
You will likely always test positive for hepatitis c antibodies but unless you have a concerning blood to blood exposure in the future you have no concerns about hepatitis C
Your HCV RNA tests were not detected meaning you have no hepatitis C virus in your blood stream. Which means you do not have hepatitis C and no further testing is needed.
You will likely always test positive for hepatitis c antibodies but unless you have a concerning blood to blood exposure in the future you have no concerns about hepatitis C
Thank you very much this helps a lot but sometimes I think about this and I freak out bring positive for hepC :(
Being*
You are not positive for hepatitis c. This was demonstrated by your not detected viral load test result. There is no, none, zero, nada hepatitis c virus in your body.
Your old post said you tested positive in the past for antibodies which are not the virus. Antibodies are made by your own body to fight against possible infection.
If you were immunized against the common childhood illnesses like Mumps, Measles, and rubella you have antibodies circulating in your blood to protect you against those viruses. Antibodies or not any virus they are made by your own body they are part of you.
Hepatitis C antibodies are not effective at defending against the virus as the hep C virus is not the same as measles mumps etc. If it were we would have a immunization to protect everyone against hepatitis C like we do have to protect against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
You don't have hepatitis C. It sounds like from your old post you do have hepatitis C antibodies. You have nothing to freak out about. There is nothing wrong with you in regards to your hepatitis C status. There is nothing to be done, there is no treatment required.
Your old post said you tested positive in the past for antibodies which are not the virus. Antibodies are made by your own body to fight against possible infection.
If you were immunized against the common childhood illnesses like Mumps, Measles, and rubella you have antibodies circulating in your blood to protect you against those viruses. Antibodies or not any virus they are made by your own body they are part of you.
Hepatitis C antibodies are not effective at defending against the virus as the hep C virus is not the same as measles mumps etc. If it were we would have a immunization to protect everyone against hepatitis C like we do have to protect against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
You don't have hepatitis C. It sounds like from your old post you do have hepatitis C antibodies. You have nothing to freak out about. There is nothing wrong with you in regards to your hepatitis C status. There is nothing to be done, there is no treatment required.
I am sorry but I have another question, I promise this will be the last question..
So since I don’t have hepC , can I be able to donate blood??
Thank you for your responses , you have been a lot of help:)
So since I don’t have hepC , can I be able to donate blood??
Thank you for your responses , you have been a lot of help:)
No, unfortunately you can’t donate blood.
The blood bank only does the antibody test as it is much less expensive to perform and faster results. If they then had to retest the sample for the actual virus well then they would have to be able to keep the donation set aside to not accidently issue it for use while waiting around a week to 10 days for the HCV RNA test plus I think the antibody test is like $30 and the HCV RNA test is like $400.
Basically it’s just not practical for them.
The blood bank only does the antibody test as it is much less expensive to perform and faster results. If they then had to retest the sample for the actual virus well then they would have to be able to keep the donation set aside to not accidently issue it for use while waiting around a week to 10 days for the HCV RNA test plus I think the antibody test is like $30 and the HCV RNA test is like $400.
Basically it’s just not practical for them.
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