Undetected lad results a mistake?

[Mmorgan856]

Hi everyone,  I was told a few days ago that I undetected after 4 wks.  When I received labs in the mail today, it reads:: hepatitis C Quantitation  < 15. HCV RNA Detected IU/ML.  So were the lab results reported incorrectly?  I know at this point, it's not indicative of success or failure. Just would like to be clear on this.   Mary

[Livelife777]

Hi Mary.    Know you were at the Docs today.  Hope all went well and if you need help with interpretation, will be here for you should you have questions.
...Kim

[sue4hula]

Hi Mary,
I just wanted you to know, I'm thinking of you and hope your doctor visit gave you some peace of mind and good information.  

Take care and remember to breathe.   One revolution at a time... :).  I keep telling myself the same thing!  

:)

[Verdugo]

Hope you were able to ask your questions to your doctor today - as he would be able to give you complete answers.  What I know about esophageal varices would fit comfortably on the head of a pin but there are others here who will be able to comment with their experience and education and if your doctor has not been clear, this forum will be able to clarify.
I'll be interested to hear about your doctor's appointment.  One thing I found helpful was to email my program manager (my doctor's lead assistant) whenever I had a question.  If there's a person in your doctor's office who fills that role, it might be great to get answers in writing.  I suggest this because altho my doctor is very patient his also incredibly busy and sometimes end up prioritizing my questions (and not asking all of them) because I feel guilty taking so much of his time.  My issue, perhaps not yours.
Good luck, V.

[Mmorgan856]

Hello again.  I meant varices.  Think that's how it's spelled.  Not varies

[Mmorgan856]

Hi Verdugo,  I have my 1st appt. W/ gastroenterologist tomorrow. So far, I've learned quite a lot about this nasty virus an I have 4 pages of written questions, hoping to clarify exactly what my labs mean.  I wondered why my Dr. , back in April ordered a slew of tests including an endoscopy an colonoscopy, when I went to see him about increased heartburn.  Now I'm beginning to get the big picture.  He always knew I had hep C with interferon intolerance an I had never voiced wanting to treat again.  I think he was "shelving me " for the new treatment coming along.  I'm wondering, would he have been able to detect varies with the endoscopy?  He might have mentioned my results but that was the appt. He said he wanted to start treatment for the hep C.  Almost came close to having a full blown anxiety attack right there, so I couldn't tell you if he told me whether I had varies or not.  What I'm understanding is the presence of esophageal varies would indicate advanced liver disease.  Right?  My viral load was 7.5 mill.  U think that's why he started treatment now instead of a few yrs ago?  Hoping someone could answer these confusing questions I have.  Nervous about my appt. Tomorrow.  Thanks in advance.  Mary

[Verdugo]

Sounds like you have a wonderful, compassionate team behind you.  Looking forward to seeing your UND post, and subsequent SVR!

[nursehepc]

That said, bottom line: If you are really concerned about something during treatment, be sure to ask your healthcare provider, remembering that there are nuances to the studies that your provider knows that imay not be published or publicly available. This is especially true if they are a hepatologist at a major transplant center that has been involved in the clinical studies and are building their own post Sovaldi approval data and have access to other's data to rely on.

Good Luck. Jo  

[nursehepc]

I am still detected at a LOD/LOQ less than 12 IU/ML.(Abbott HCV Real Time) at 8 weeds on 12 week sovaldi/ribavirin treatment. I was told that this is pretty common and that folks are UND at EOT and the delayed UND result has no bearing on SVR outcome with Sovaldi=based treatments and that result was considered good. They stated that the sensitivity of the Abbott  test was also more sensitive than what was used during clinical trials

I had my ribavirin decreased to 800 mg at 2 weeks into treatment due to a 4 pt drop in the first 2 weeks and asked if I could increase it back to 1000 mg  for the last three weeks given that I still had detected virus and my Hgb had increased 2 points since reduction. They stated that they did not want to do that as the reduction also has no impact on SVR and that they were happy with what they saw.

In other words, you are detected and will likely be undetected at 8 weeks. You are doing great!

Jo

[Mmorgan856]

Thanks for clearing that up.  Treating with solvaldi/Ribasphere. So hoping to have an undetected lab work soon. Thanks

[HectorSF]

What the mailed lab results indicates is that you are still DETECTABLE but the level is too low to measure. Meaning it is less than 15 IU/ML (Quantitation  < 15).
Whoever told you are were undetectable was mistaken.

If you are treating with Sovaldi + Olysio when you become undetectable makes no difference as most people are not undetectable until after week 4.

If treating with other Sovaldi based treatments whether it makes any difference is unknown.

Good luck with your treatment!

Hector