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Hepatitis C?
My doctor said I have Hep c and I either got it sexually ( I haven't had sex in 3 1/2 years ) tattoo (never even seen anyone get one) blood transfusion ( never had one) or by sharing a needle ( never even seen that either). So how can this be?
This discussion is related to Hepatitis C.
This discussion is related to Hepatitis C.
Please take Idyllic's advise seriously. There is no point in starting the fight until you are really sure you have the disease. False positives do occur, and even in the case of an actual infection 15-20% of people who acquire the virus have a strong enough immune system to fight it off on their own – but they will always have the antibodies that their immune system created to fight the virus. You need an HCV PCR test to see if you truly have the virus present or not.
Most doctors only test for the Hepatitis C Antibody.
You ought to call the doctor's office and ask for a copy of your lab work. You would not believe how many people come on here convinced they have Hepatitis C only to discover they only had presence of the antibody. The next step is usually the HCV PCR.
Quite honestly I would confirm this before you travel down this road.
You ought to call the doctor's office and ask for a copy of your lab work. You would not believe how many people come on here convinced they have Hepatitis C only to discover they only had presence of the antibody. The next step is usually the HCV PCR.
Quite honestly I would confirm this before you travel down this road.
Under what circumstances is a false-positive anti-HCV test result likely?
False-positive anti-HCV tests appear more often when persons at low risk for HCV infection (e.g., blood donors) are tested. Therefore, it is important to follow-up all positive anti-HCV tests with a RNA test to establish current infection.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
What test did you have? Was it and antibody screening test? If it was an antibody screening test you will then need to have further testing to see if you have Chronic HCV or if you were just exposed to it and your body fought it off on its own.
"Approximately 15%–25% of persons clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop chronic infection; the reasons for this are not well known."
If it was an antibody test, you will need to have an HCV PCR test to detect the presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR])
I wouldnt worry so much about how you contracted it. First, have the testing done to confirm. Then, if you indeed have an active HCV infection, put your energy into getting treatment and educating yourself about the disease. Many are successful in clearing the virus and new medications are on the horizon.
False-positive anti-HCV tests appear more often when persons at low risk for HCV infection (e.g., blood donors) are tested. Therefore, it is important to follow-up all positive anti-HCV tests with a RNA test to establish current infection.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
What test did you have? Was it and antibody screening test? If it was an antibody screening test you will then need to have further testing to see if you have Chronic HCV or if you were just exposed to it and your body fought it off on its own.
"Approximately 15%–25% of persons clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop chronic infection; the reasons for this are not well known."
If it was an antibody test, you will need to have an HCV PCR test to detect the presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR])
I wouldnt worry so much about how you contracted it. First, have the testing done to confirm. Then, if you indeed have an active HCV infection, put your energy into getting treatment and educating yourself about the disease. Many are successful in clearing the virus and new medications are on the horizon.
Transmission
How is HCV transmitted?
HCV is transmitted primarily through large or repeated percutaneous (i.e., passage through the skin) exposures to infectious blood, such as
Injection drug use (currently the most common means of HCV transmission in the United States)
Receipt of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
Needlestick injuries in health care settings
Birth to an HCV-infected mother
HCV can also be spread infrequently through
Sex with an HCV-infected person (an inefficient means of transmission)
Sharing personal items contaminated with infectious blood, such as razors or toothbrushes (also inefficient vectors of transmission)
Other health care procedures that involve invasive procedures, such as injections (usually recognized in the context of outbreaks)
What is the prevalence of HCV infection among injection drug users (IDUs)?
The most recent surveys of active IDUs indicate that approximately one third of young (aged 18–30 years) IDUs are HCV-infected. Older and former IDUs typically have a much higher prevalence (approximately 70%–90%) of HCV infection, reflecting the increased risk of continued injection drug use. The high HCV prevalence among former IDUs is largely attributable to needle sharing during the 1970s and 1980s, before the risks of bloodborne viruses were widely known and before educational initiatives were implemented.
Is cocaine use associated with HCV transmission?
There are very limited epidemiologic data to suggest an additional risk from non-injection (snorted or smoked) cocaine use, but this risk is difficult to differentiate from associated injection drug use and sex with HCV-infected partners.
What is the risk of acquiring HCV infection from transfused blood or blood products in the United States?
Now that more advanced screening tests for HCV are used in blood banks, the risk is considered to be less than 1 chance per 2 million units transfused. Before 1992, when blood screening for HCV became available, blood transfusion was a leading means of HCV transmission.
Can HCV be spread during medical or dental procedures?
As long as Standard Precautions and other infection control practices are used consistently, medical and dental procedures performed in the United States generally do not pose a risk for the spread of HCV. However, HCV has been spread in health care settings when injection equipment, such as syringes, was shared between patients or when injectable medications or intravenous solutions were mishandled and became contaminated with blood. Health care personnel should understand and adhere to Standard Precautions, which includes safe injection practices and other guidance aimed at reducing bloodborne pathogen risks for patients and health care personnel. If health care-associated HCV infection is suspected, this should be reported to state and local public health authorities.
Can HCV be spread within a household?
Yes, but this does not occur very often. If HCV is spread within a household, it is most likely a result of direct, through-the-skin exposure to the blood of an infected household member.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
How is HCV transmitted?
HCV is transmitted primarily through large or repeated percutaneous (i.e., passage through the skin) exposures to infectious blood, such as
Injection drug use (currently the most common means of HCV transmission in the United States)
Receipt of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
Needlestick injuries in health care settings
Birth to an HCV-infected mother
HCV can also be spread infrequently through
Sex with an HCV-infected person (an inefficient means of transmission)
Sharing personal items contaminated with infectious blood, such as razors or toothbrushes (also inefficient vectors of transmission)
Other health care procedures that involve invasive procedures, such as injections (usually recognized in the context of outbreaks)
What is the prevalence of HCV infection among injection drug users (IDUs)?
The most recent surveys of active IDUs indicate that approximately one third of young (aged 18–30 years) IDUs are HCV-infected. Older and former IDUs typically have a much higher prevalence (approximately 70%–90%) of HCV infection, reflecting the increased risk of continued injection drug use. The high HCV prevalence among former IDUs is largely attributable to needle sharing during the 1970s and 1980s, before the risks of bloodborne viruses were widely known and before educational initiatives were implemented.
Is cocaine use associated with HCV transmission?
There are very limited epidemiologic data to suggest an additional risk from non-injection (snorted or smoked) cocaine use, but this risk is difficult to differentiate from associated injection drug use and sex with HCV-infected partners.
What is the risk of acquiring HCV infection from transfused blood or blood products in the United States?
Now that more advanced screening tests for HCV are used in blood banks, the risk is considered to be less than 1 chance per 2 million units transfused. Before 1992, when blood screening for HCV became available, blood transfusion was a leading means of HCV transmission.
Can HCV be spread during medical or dental procedures?
As long as Standard Precautions and other infection control practices are used consistently, medical and dental procedures performed in the United States generally do not pose a risk for the spread of HCV. However, HCV has been spread in health care settings when injection equipment, such as syringes, was shared between patients or when injectable medications or intravenous solutions were mishandled and became contaminated with blood. Health care personnel should understand and adhere to Standard Precautions, which includes safe injection practices and other guidance aimed at reducing bloodborne pathogen risks for patients and health care personnel. If health care-associated HCV infection is suspected, this should be reported to state and local public health authorities.
Can HCV be spread within a household?
Yes, but this does not occur very often. If HCV is spread within a household, it is most likely a result of direct, through-the-skin exposure to the blood of an infected household member.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
they can have a false positive just like with any other test. but if indeed u do have it. you could of gotten it from sharing a razor,a toothbrush, or even nailclippers.
Hi and welcome. Why were you tested for this were you haveing symptoms and was the test for antibodies and a follow up test to see if its still active in your blood?
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