Labcorp results

[mark747]

I just received my 4 week results and it states (Unable to Calculate results since non-numeric results obtained for componet test).
PCR assay performed using National Genetic Institute's validation proprietary methodology. Results greater than or equal to 5 copies/ml of HCV RNA indicate the presence of virus-specific nucleic acid sequence.
Is this good/bad? I have to travel I will be check back in several hours.

[mark747]

I will have to try that share a photo trick in the morning. I came straight to a Hotel. My doctor is a board certified Gastrenterologist. He was highly recommended. His/my nurse stated that the virus is undectable. I asked her several other questions about this test and she didn't know.That gave me great pause for concern. Also my doctor is out for the day. As you stated a very guarded UND.Thanks

[jmjm530]

Maybe you can scan as a JPG and then post public here with the new share a photo feature. Personally, I've never seen that particular LabCorp format so would be curious. Of course, you might want to block out all personal information before posting since this is a public form. Of course this begs the question what did your doctor tell you, not that you shouldn't indpendently verify things when some doubt exists.

-- Jim

[g2bMan]

I totally agree with Jim.  I am a patient with a little insight because I have taken that same particular test, but please consult with your doctor to verify your lab results.

[mark747]

if someone has an e-mail. I can scan and forward as soon as I land in Oklahoma. Guy's I have to run. Thanks

[jmjm530]

G2's take certainly sounds a lot better and he has the benfit of a LabCorp report in front of him, so a guarded congratulations! But do check with your doc because neither of us have the report in front of us.

-- Jim

[mark747]

That is exactly what it says.

[g2bMan]

This sounds like the LabCorp #140639 test which is very sensitive.
Take another peek at the lab report and look above the sentence "Unable to Calculate results since non-numeric results obtained for component test".  There should be a line that says "Hepatitis C Quantitation" with a line just below it that says (hopefully) "Less than 5 Copies/mL".
If that is the case, then you are UND using a test with a sensitivity of less than 2 IU/mL.
LabCorp puts that sentence in there for the log10 number when the results are below the thresold of the test (meaning UND).
I have taken that specific LabCorp test 4 times in 6 months.

[mark747]

I want to know at this stage of the game. Being geno1a, if I need to DD for a few weeks like you did. I want to do it now rather than? I am really having a tough time with this. I will do almost anything to prevent another go around.

[jmjm530]

Some of our posts may be getting crossed --

No need to run the same test twice without first checking with your doctor, the lab, or HR.

Again, it appears you are detectible between 2 IU/ml and 39 IU/ml. Not sure how useful at this point it is to pinpoint that number. But please, get all this confrimed by your doctor.


-- Jim

[mark747]

Thanks, I was starting to get excited. I will request the other test in the morning.

[jmjm530]

(our last posts crossed)

Thought so. Hopefully your doctor can then confirm what I've stated. If not, try the lab or post directly to "HR".

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

According to some old notes, it appears that the quant portion of of LC 14039 starts at 39 IU/ml. So, that would mean you are somewhere between 2 IU/ml (5 copies) and 39 IU/ml, if I'm getting this right. I emphasize "if I'm getting this right" because I'm not 100% sure of what test you took, and even so, I don't fully pretend to understand these types of readings that were posted in the past re LC14039 that have at times caused much confusion and I believe at one time HR had to intervene and actually call the lab for clarification.

-- Jim

[mark747]

It was a HCV  NGI  Quantasure quantitative.

[jmjm530]

Let me take most of what I said back. In re-reading your post, it appears you may have already taken the NGI Quantasure (LC#140639) and fallen somewhere in the gap between the Quant and Qual portion of that test. There's been some confusion in the past re that "no-man's" land of test results so I guess all you can extrapolate is that you are above 5 copies and somewhere below the bottom limit of the quant component, which I don't have handy. Sometimes -- assuming it's the NGI Quantasure -- they are able to extrapolate the viral load in this gap and sometimes apparently they can't. I often recommend "Heptimax" for any number of reasons and this is one.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Not 100% sure since you didn't mention which specific LabCorp test you took, but it appears you took a qualitative or possibly a quantitative but your results were out of it's range or for some other reason unable to be calculated. Bottom line is that appears you are still virus positive at week 4.

That said, you really want more information regarding your viral load to see how far it's dropped in terms of logs from pre-treatment. Hopefully, they still have your blood at the lab from that draw and your doctor can add an appropriate test. The test you probably want is the HCV  NGI  Quantasure quantitative  LC#140639 that has a range from 2 to 2 million IU/ml. Make sure you specify that LC number or they may give you the wrong test. Alternatively, if you had a very high pre-tx viral load, you could order the less sensitive HCV Quantasure Plus,LC# 550027  Quantitative PCR which has a range of 10-10 million IU/ml.

-- Jim