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What Does Anti HCV Ratio Of 3.38 Indiacte?
Question: My friend just received the following hep c antibody test results:
-Reactive
-Signal to cutoff ratio: 3.38
It looks like less than 1 was norm??
He took the follow up tests to confirm this today.
My question is from what Ive read, could the cutoff ratio of 3.38 be low enough for it to be a false positive??
He has normal liver functions and is not a current or past drug user. He's never had a transfusion and is an otherwise healthy 40 year old. He is on a statin.
Any thoughts?
-Reactive
-Signal to cutoff ratio: 3.38
It looks like less than 1 was norm??
He took the follow up tests to confirm this today.
My question is from what Ive read, could the cutoff ratio of 3.38 be low enough for it to be a false positive??
He has normal liver functions and is not a current or past drug user. He's never had a transfusion and is an otherwise healthy 40 year old. He is on a statin.
Any thoughts?
Brief Answer:
RNA test will help to confirm the infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your friends Anti HCV ratio is high.
If the ratio was more than 3.38 the chances of DNA being positive are more than 95 percent. False positive can be seen in Anti HCV and are more likely at levels less than 3.38
You need to do a Heptatits C RNA test to confirm the diagnosis. At this ratio a qualitative RNA test is preferred because it is more sensitive.
The probable modes of hepatitis c transmission could be contaminated intramuscular injection needles or contaminates/shared shaving razors.
Tattooing could be one on the possible sources of infection( if he has a tattoo).
Other possible sources could be dental procedures.
The RNA test should help confirm whether it is a false positive or whether your friend has hepatitis C
Hope this helps
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
RNA test will help to confirm the infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Your friends Anti HCV ratio is high.
If the ratio was more than 3.38 the chances of DNA being positive are more than 95 percent. False positive can be seen in Anti HCV and are more likely at levels less than 3.38
You need to do a Heptatits C RNA test to confirm the diagnosis. At this ratio a qualitative RNA test is preferred because it is more sensitive.
The probable modes of hepatitis c transmission could be contaminated intramuscular injection needles or contaminates/shared shaving razors.
Tattooing could be one on the possible sources of infection( if he has a tattoo).
Other possible sources could be dental procedures.
The RNA test should help confirm whether it is a false positive or whether your friend has hepatitis C
Hope this helps
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you.
What are the chances of sexual transmission? Should he abstain from sex?
Also how long does it take to show up on the antibody tests, once infected? Could it just be weeks? Or more like months?
With this high ratio, is it more likely to be chronic or can it have cleared w antibodies still there? Also, does the high ratio lend a clue to this?
What are the chances of sexual transmission? Should he abstain from sex?
Also how long does it take to show up on the antibody tests, once infected? Could it just be weeks? Or more like months?
With this high ratio, is it more likely to be chronic or can it have cleared w antibodies still there? Also, does the high ratio lend a clue to this?
Brief Answer:
sexual transmission very low. chronic likely
Detailed Answer:
Hello the chance of sexual transmission are very low. Barrier protection is not recommended in monogamous couples. Abstaining from sex is not needed. However in a polygamous relationship all concerned should be made aware of the presence of the disease.
It takes 8 to 12 weeks for the antibodies to become positive.
The high ratio does not corelate with the duration of infection if the ratio is more than 10 it indicates that the RNA levels are likely to be high. The chances that this is a chronic infection are high. Spontaneous Clearance of virus is seen in very few people clearance rates are higher in people who develop acute hepatitis C with jaundice.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
sexual transmission very low. chronic likely
Detailed Answer:
Hello the chance of sexual transmission are very low. Barrier protection is not recommended in monogamous couples. Abstaining from sex is not needed. However in a polygamous relationship all concerned should be made aware of the presence of the disease.
It takes 8 to 12 weeks for the antibodies to become positive.
The high ratio does not corelate with the duration of infection if the ratio is more than 10 it indicates that the RNA levels are likely to be high. The chances that this is a chronic infection are high. Spontaneous Clearance of virus is seen in very few people clearance rates are higher in people who develop acute hepatitis C with jaundice.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thank you for your thorough answers!
Does everyone with hep c need treatment or does it depend on how the liver functions?
How long is treatment and is there a cure?
Does everyone with hep c need treatment or does it depend on how the liver functions?
How long is treatment and is there a cure?
Brief Answer:
Cure is there
Detailed Answer:
Every one with hepatitis C needs treatment. Hepatitis c is a slowly progressive disease. If liver enzymes are normal then we can wait a few years . if enzymes are high then we need to start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment duration depends on the type of genotype the are 4 common genotypes names 1 2 3 and 4.
Duration is 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 24 weeks for genotype 3.
Commonly used regimen is weekly interferon with daily ribavarin tabs. Cure rate is 60% for genotype one and 90 % for 3.
With newer oral regimens ( not available everywhere and very costly as of now) the cure rates are 97 %
Hope this helps
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Cure is there
Detailed Answer:
Every one with hepatitis C needs treatment. Hepatitis c is a slowly progressive disease. If liver enzymes are normal then we can wait a few years . if enzymes are high then we need to start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment duration depends on the type of genotype the are 4 common genotypes names 1 2 3 and 4.
Duration is 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 24 weeks for genotype 3.
Commonly used regimen is weekly interferon with daily ribavarin tabs. Cure rate is 60% for genotype one and 90 % for 3.
With newer oral regimens ( not available everywhere and very costly as of now) the cure rates are 97 %
Hope this helps
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Is there another test that his wife can take that will give her the answers quickly to whether she was exposed or not instead of waiting for the antibody test?
Brief Answer:
wait for the antibody test
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The antibody test is the test where you will get more accurate which is better than tests which give results early.
There are rapid card tests which give the results instantaneously, but these are less accurate. I would suggest to wait for the antibody test.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
wait for the antibody test
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The antibody test is the test where you will get more accurate which is better than tests which give results early.
There are rapid card tests which give the results instantaneously, but these are less accurate. I would suggest to wait for the antibody test.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
So wait the 8-12 wks to take? Do you know the likleyhood of it being transmitted?
Brief Answer:
very low risk.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
HCV RNA can be positive as early as one week. But it is advisable to wait as or might take longer.
The ideal approach would be to get anybody level done now to confirm that the partner is negative and then repeat it after 12 weeks.
The exact eis of sexual transmission is different in different literature . it varies from none to 0.1 percent per year.
Hope this clarifies your doubt
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
very low risk.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
HCV RNA can be positive as early as one week. But it is advisable to wait as or might take longer.
The ideal approach would be to get anybody level done now to confirm that the partner is negative and then repeat it after 12 weeks.
The exact eis of sexual transmission is different in different literature . it varies from none to 0.1 percent per year.
Hope this clarifies your doubt
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
My friend retook the antibody test and it came back as non reactive. The gastro said they have seen a few people come back from that lab with high antibody that then turned out to be a mistake. They forgot to run the rna test! Which he went back for yesterday. Could this happen?
Brief Answer:
can happen
Detailed Answer:
Yes this can happen. The best way is to get the RNA test to confirm presence or absence.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
can happen
Detailed Answer:
Yes this can happen. The best way is to get the RNA test to confirm presence or absence.
Regards
Dr Samir Patil
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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