Viral load results

[britpeter]

My question is how long most of you have to wait for viral load results? They are not necessarily automatic at start of tx here in GB, but I specifically requested mine to be done when I started on 5th Jan., and today my specialist nurse has told me it was an oversight on the part of the lab so she has had to repeat request from my original sample which is still available cos it was frozen. Does that sound about right cos I can't help wondering if someone forgot to ask for them in January and is trying to cover a mistake? In other words, I certainly wouldn't want my viral load estimated from week 5's blood(the latest taken) and I feel I need some kinda confirmation that the results, when they do come, can be evidenced to source from pre tx blood..........worried and anxious!!

[britgirl]

Joanna, congratulations on finishing! I wouldn't worry about the missing Riba pills. As for the thyroid, I don't know how they can tell when the damage is permanent and when it is temporary, and I am not sure what your numbers mean. My thyroid seems to have stabilised; I had a blood test last week which shows it is doing fine on 75mg of thyroxine a day. Just make sure they keep an eye on it for you over the next few months. Good luck for your PCR!

Hi Beth! Hope you are doing well and we can meet up soon.

[BethUK]

Joanna, well done for finishing your ordeal.  It will soon become a blur to you!

britpeter.  I went to University Hospital Birmingham for my treatment.  I just got a viral load  and genotype test just before I started and think it took a couple of weeks to get the results.  I could be wrong though might have been 2 weeks for the pcr.

britgirl- hi hope you are OK, hopefully i'll see you in the next month or two

[jevs2]

Hi there britgirl
I finished my tx yesterday!!!!!!
I was 2 days short on my ribavirin because I've doubled dosed myself a few times accidently (brain fog).
My last bloods showed that my thyroid was not working properly.
The T3 count was low.
The lab wrote a comment that it was consistant with being on the combo tx.
How can my doc be so sure that it will right itself after tx 'cause I know that yours didn't?
Best wishes
Joanna

[audreywald]

I too started on Jan 5th, and will not get a test for viral load till I am at 12 weeks. It is probably a good thing, becuae if I am not headed in the right direction, I would be tempted to stop.

[britpeter]

I am in SW, Torbay to be exact and their practise at start is the PCR but not always viral load info to patient. I assume that they must do it so they can gauge the drop at 12 weeks but like I said, I started on 5 Jan and I am still waiting for pre tx viral load. All the very best for your 12 weeker and ta for your kind words and support!

[britgirl]

I am in London and never had a viral load test done. The policy at my hospital (King's)  was not to bother as it was unecessary. They did tell me that all my samples had been frozen in case one day the Roche trial I was on decided to look at viral loads, so what they are telling you sounds about right. I didn't have a PCR until the end of treatment (24 weeks). I know all this is probably as a result of the NHS not wanting to spend money, but to tell you the truth it suited me, psychologically, not to keep testing.

[Revenire]

I usually have to wait 2 weeks from the day the blood is drawn for viral load results; LFTs are the next day, same with CBCs.

[DonL]

I was told 2 weeks, but got them much sooner at start and 12 weeks' tests. The lab explained that they batch the tests so if you catch the batch, you get results in a couple of days. The PCR tests need to have the blood frozen so if they still have yours frozen, it should be fine.

Don't know, but it sounds like someone at the dr's either forgot to ask or forgot to follow up. From now on, that's your job since you care the most. What's most startling about this tx is how much you have to be in control of your tx to make sure you get what you need. My dr is good and the PA is OK, but I have corrected both of them on dates, numbers, tests, etc. Of course, they have both corrected me, too, so it's not a one-way street.

[louisep]

Hi there,
not sure where abouts you are in England as I haven't been around much, of late....I'm in the South.
Geno 3a, currently on 11/24 yesterday.
I'm due for my 12 week viral load test next Mon, but have been told I'll have to wait up to 4 weeks for the results.  Apparently, they like to do them in batches as the test is so expensive, hence, the wait.
Don't know if it's the same throughout the rest of the uk but my viral load was only tested when they discovered my hep c, back in Feb 2003 & I'm told it will only be tested again at 12 weeks & 24 weeks.  After tx, I have been told they'll take blood at 12 weeks & 24 again, but only check LFTs.
Hope this helps & welcome.
Good luck with the battle ahead.
Louise