That answer could go either way my brother. It could of came up negetive back then but you still could have had it?? Yes it happens. Or You could have just recently came up with it during that outpatient stuff. But my answers arnt way researched either. Thats just off the top of my head. Im sure that my Sisters McKenzie or Miss JustBlue have great advise, To give you brother!! Im with ya though

Tattman...... I love your honesty. You are the best!!.

I see why your confused...now If I had a negative on the Hep c test then I take that as you don't have it...but like Tatt said, it could have been there and I disagree that there is no false positve or negative...I know of a woman that kept going to docs and one minute she was positive and the next negative..go figure...I like Tatt run off the top of my heard but we do have people here with some research to back it...I bet this drives you crazy !! Take care and I'll be watching for other replys to..hugs Janet

Hey Bob,
I have a question about your first test being negative.
I am not all that familiar with all the kinds of tests they do, but there is the one where they test the results are more to do with antibodies. Do you have copies of your test results or can you get copies? I think they name the tests so you could determine more from knowing the types of tests done.
I know I am being fuzzy but I will use my very first test results.

I was told that I tested positive for C but negative for A and B. When I asked for them to explain that in English to me (LOL), they said that the negative for the A and B meant that I had never ever had either and that it would be a good time for me to get the series of vaccine for them.
For the C, we did more testing and also to get my viral load.

I know that's a piss poor answer, but see if you can get more specifics from that first testing.
If you tested negative for the antibodies, you definitely never had C then. I really don't have any damage to require tons of different types of tests, so I am sure lots of others around here can help you with more info.
That's my guess and I am sticking to it.

Sorry I guess my ramblings may not be all to helpful, but the others will have more to say.

Hello Bob,

Just notice this thread, hope this helps.....

In my opinion, when you first got tested, you had recently contracted the virus, it wasn't detectable in your blood yet.....

Initially your blood may be tested for the presence of hep c antibodies (i.e. an antibody test). If this comes back positive, then it only reveals that you have been infected with the virus at some time.

If it is negative, then you may be required to have another test a few months later.

This is called the window period - the rough time it can take from initial infection to the virus becoming detectable in your blood.

If your antibody test is positive, a further test to check for the active virus will be necessary.

If this is negative, then you have had hepatitis C but are no longer infected (this happens to one in five people and is called "spontaneous clearance").

However, if you have an positive PCR test then that means you currently have hepatitis C.

Sometimes this is ALSO referred to as "Chronic" hep c or CHC. (chronic meaning an ongoing infection).

The PCR is the real test it gives you the viral load, and genotype.
What you had in 2004 the test I mean, was probably just to check for antibodies of the hepatitis families, A,B,C....

See when I was tested, the antibodies showed that I had contracted at one point in my life, (MEXICO) hep A, and hep c, but apparently I had contracted the hep c a long time before getting tested.

So it showed antibodies of both hep A and C, so I was told to get vaccinated for hep B, since I will always have the antibodies of hep B & C even though I consider myself cured after almost 4 years now of being undetected for hep c.

I hope this clarifies your situation.
At this point you must have ahd a PCR test? If you know your genotype and viral load, you did get this test done.

Good luck
Mckenzie
One day at the time

Hi BigBob
McKenzie is right on
1) you likely had the Anti-HCV test (Hep C antibody test) which would be a "false" negative ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET developed antibodies to the virus (usually occurs within the 3 months after exposure in most people)
2) Ill assume at that initial time you didnt have a RIBA (the Hep C confirmatory PCR test) OR a Hep C viral RNA which only would have been done had you had a (+) Hep C antibody test.
3) It is less likely you got infected after 2004 via surgery because we screened for Hep C at that time...
hope this helps
Dr O.

Thanks Dr O. That is sort of how I figured it. I looked at my test results from 2004 and it didn't say "negative" for Hep C. It said "non-reactive". Oh well. I have to stop trying to figure out where it came from. I just have to be thankful that the TX seems to be working and hope for the best. Thanks to everyone who responded. I appreciate you all.

Bob

Bob, If the Hep C antibody is in your body there is no way you can go undeteced through the right blood test. Ask for a PCR blood test to confim any viral load. That will tell you for sure whats up. Also, if you go to a county clinic that tests for AIDS you should be able to get HEC C antibody test at minimal cost. That is what I did in the early years.

The difference between negative and undetectable comes from the lab tests.

If you were tested in 2004 and it was negative, that meant you didn't have the antibodies, therefore you didn't have hep C.

"Undetectable" means that you had been found hep C positive, but either due to you spontaneously clearing the virus on your own(without the aid of treatment), or through the aid of treatment you reached an undetectable level.

This means that the amount of virus is so low that the current tests cannot measure it, which is often good news - especially if it stays that low over a period of time, because at that point (varies with different doctors), you are considered to have cleared the virus.