PCR

[zo]

I am 3 weeks after tx,but my doctor said he will ask for a PCR 6 months after;but I am too anxious to wait a so long time,so I would ask for a PCR next week!but I don't know which is better :PCR quantitative or PCR qualitative;how do I know which one to ask?
I saw on Internet that the last is more precise to say "NO",but I made a anti-HCV and it says "positive",so I am a little lost!
Any idea?Thanks for giving me your opinion

[cuteus]

it is based on the Drusano model. tnguy had the link readily available but he seems to be MIA. Ihope he is ok. do a dogpile search on it.

[scruffy]

Sandi, I don't have anything useful to reference you to. I picked up that 36 weeks after clearing thing here most likely. I read and digest info and come to conclusions and then quickly forget where the original info came from while retaining my conclusions. I'll always lose an argument because I forget the facts leading to the conclusions. Many fact finders reside here and I hope they can reference you to helpful info. It is of primary importance. frank

[LvdByGod!]

scruffy do you (or anyone else here) have articles on how long you should be on tx after your first "nondetectable"?  what is the general concensus on the issue that you guys have heard? my hepatologist briefly mentioned 9 months or longer. has anyone else here heard or read about it? does anyone have articles in case we need to fight for our extentions of tx...

thanks, sandi

[layla]

My hep doc was going to just order a 6 month so I asked my GP and he ordered me a PCR at 3 months. Waiting for the results of both was very stressfull but the news was good. LL

[zo]

Thanks for your answers;as I know the qualitative detect a much lower or virus,so I can be negative on a quantitative and positive on a qualitative;if it happens,does this mean I have not SVR? Is the qualitative the most important?What is PCP?

[bunkywoo]

Congratulations on finishing tx. I am 2 years post-tx and sent my dr. a letter requesting a script for a PCR quantative, qualatative, SGOT, SGPT AND CBC - and that's exactly what he wrote my script for. I wanted to know how all of my blood levels were along with my liver enzymes. I didn't ever leave things like this in my dr's. hands. YOU tell them what you want and they will do it. 6 months post I asked my doc for a Heptimax script and he didn't even know what it was. I had to fax him an article on it. Not all dr's are up on the latest and greatest tests, especially if they're not Hep specialists, just GI's like I had.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll be clear. Welcome to the post-tx club!

Laurie

[doll face]

Since I had relapsed once my doctor gave me a my first PCR(qualitative) at 2 months and I just had a 4 month done on Wednesday, should have the results back tomorrow. I would ask for a 3 month if I were you. If he won't do it I guess I would ask my pcp. Good luck.

[cuteus]

my dr gives a 4wk, 3m and 6m post pcr. it is a big research hospital.  they only did the quantitative and i was surprised of that. i guess the theory is that if it is back at all, it is back in numbers and can be counted.
i might get my pcp to do the qual just to make sure there is no activity at all.

the anti hcv is an antibody test, it will always be positive for most people, why would your dr do one on a hcv patient?

[Lynne5477]

pcp = Primary Care Physician

Good luck with your tests.

[cuteus]

I think the quantitative that goes to 50iu/ml is fine also. like I said, if the virus is back, it is in big enough numbers to be counted. if qualitative is positive and no vl, which is an unusual scenario, it might mean viral activity, yes.

I had the Quest that goes down to the 50iu/ml and it has been negative so far, the qualitative would just confirm that there is no virus left in the blood, but either test, if sensitive enough is fine.

[scruffy]

At 12 weeks into tx I was given both a qualitative and a quantitative. The quantitative read <600 iu/ml but the qualitative still detected virus. I should have extended my 48 week tx based on that. I did'nt and did not get SVR. Would it have made a difference? I think it might have. I agree with the theory that you should treat 36 weeks beyond testing clear. Your first time treating may be your best opportunity for SVR. frank

[scruffy]

Actually Zoe that last post was directed at newer treaters. be well, frank

[Tony-z]

Many Dr's only do a three and/or six month Qualatative PCR becase of heath care costs.  The qualatative PCR is by far more acurate, down to 5 IU/ML with.

I have my 6 month PCR in June and am not in a hurry.....I have heard relapse two to many times.


       Good Luck.


          TonyZ

PS HCV Information...


Is There a Correlation Between HCV Viral Load and Severity of Liver Disease?

The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers (HCV viral load) has been examined in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to those with higher levels.

Moreover, a direct association has been observed between serum titers of HCV and transmission rates of the virus.

The aim of the present study was to determine if there was any correlation between HCV viral load and the severity of liver disease.

Fifty patients with HCV infection were included in the study. These comprised of 34 subjects with a history of alcohol use and 16 non-alcoholics.

Quantitative serum HCV RNA assay was carried out using the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. Linear regression analysis was performed between serum viral titers and liver tests.

In addition, for the purpose of comparison, the subjects were divided into two groups: those with low viral titers (<=50 genome mEq/mL) and high titers (>50 mEq/mL).

Results
All subjects were men, with a mean+/-SD age of 47+/-7.8 years. The mean HCV RNA level in the blood was 76.3X10(5)+/-109.1 genome equivalents/mL.

There was no correlation between HCV RNA levels and age of the patients (r = 0.181), and the history or amount (g/d) of alcohol consumption (r = 0.07).

Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum HCV RNA levels and the severity of liver disease as judged by the values of serum albumin (r = 0.175), bilirubin (r = 0.217), ALT (r = 0.06) and AST (r = 0.004) levels.

Similarly, no significant difference was observed between patients with low viral titers and high titers with respect to any of the parameters.

Conclusion
The authors conclude,

[zo]

Thank you for your posts and your comments.I'll ask my doctor for  a qualitative PCR.I know they don't give it very often because it is an expensive test,but I spend also a lot of money using tranquilizers!
I hope I will stay in the post tx group!
I appreciate  very much your incentives

[Lynne5477]

don't know if this will help a lot but my dr asks for a "HCV Qantasure Plus (non-graph)" which measures down as low as 10 VL.  I also use LabCorp.  My dr also only test at end of tx and then not again for 6 months.....you are right, it's a long wait.

Hopefully, someone will come along soon and give you a more precise answer.