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Hep C Test Results

Hello,

My wife and I recently had physicals for life insurance. My wife's Hep C test came back indeterminate. She then went to our health care provider and was tested again and all they told her was that her test was reactive?  She has an appointment with her doctor in a couple of days. We have been together/married for ten years.  She is extremely low risk, the only thing in question is a surgery in 1999 to repair an ACL. My test was negative. We also have an 8 month old wonderful son. He was breast fed. We are scared that he might have been exposed to this. What's your guys thoughts on this? False postive?  

Thanks!
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1765684 tn?1333819168
The only way to know for sure if there's a current infection is to have the testing recommended above by willbb.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for all the information. One last question in regards to an indeterminate test result. Would that be considered low reactive?

Thanks Again!
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Avatar universal
I thought I remembered that vertical transmission was about 5%, wiki is saying less than 10.  The baby is likely fine but if your wife has hep c you may wish to test the baby too just to be sure.

Vertical transmission
Vertical transmission of hepatitis C from an infected mother to her child occurs in less than 10% of pregnancies.[30] There are no measures that alter this risk.[30] It is not clear when during pregnancy transmission occurs, but it may occur both during gestation and at delivery.[18] A long labor is associated with a greater risk of transmission.[11] There is no evidence that breast-feeding spreads HCV; however, to be cautious, an infected mother is advised to avoid breastfeeding if her nipples are cracked and bleeding,[31] or her viral loads are high.[18]
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163305 tn?1333668571
There are many women who've given birth, raised their children without knowing the had HCV and their children are fine.
It is possible, though unlikely to pass hep C during childbirth and through breast feeding if there is bleeding. ( hep C is passed blood to blood)
Your son is probably fine but the only way to know for sure is to get a simple blood test, if your wife is indeed  hep C positive.
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Avatar universal
It sounds like as suezeeque says ,you have  had the HCV antibodies test.
It would be difficult  to interpret with what you have posted ,,however if it was "reactive (positive) then she needs further testing to confirm whether or not this was a false positive (often the case with a low reactive and absence of risk factors)or if she has been exposed to the virus.

As a follow up the doctor should order the Riba (Recombinant Immunoblot Assay) or the HCV /RNA PCR test to confirm..

Good luck..
Will
Helpful - 0
1990530 tn?1333478843
Don't worry too much until the test actually says positive.
I have had HCV for 35yrs. and have not been sick from it, (knock on wood)
I am an oddity as both of my children  contracted it from me during child birth. they are 31yrs and 27yrs. and neither one has had any health issues related to HCV. My husband tests every couple of yrs and is still negative. Biggest thing Dr. said about sexual transmission is not to have it too close to your monthlys. I do not qualify for any life insurance plans.
you can get HCV from ear or body piercing, tatoos, even from some dentists. any place that reuses equipment that pokes your skin.
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1765684 tn?1333819168
She has to have a second test to determine if there is virus *currently* present.  The test you both had sounds like the antibody test.  Some people are able to clear the virus without intervention but will always test positive for the antibodies.

I have HCV and estimate that I've had it for in excess of 20 years, likely from a tattoo in the 80s.  HCV is not a sexually transmitted disease so if she does have it, it doesn't mean she's been cheating on ya.  ;)

My husband and my daughter are HCV free.  
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