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What Does My HCV RNA Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 28 Oct 2014

Question: Hcv RNA test came back as nondetected and <1.8 was next to that. What exactly does this mean?

Answered by Dr. Arun (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Information requires..

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thank you for your contact to healthcare magic. I am Dr Arun Tank I am infectious disease specialist and I am going to answer your query.
I understand your concern.

- As you have mentioned HCV RNA not detected < 1.8. I want to know the unit of the HCV RNA e.g. copies/ml? Kindly provide the unit to help you out further.
- Also if you have photocopy of the report, kindly attach it with the answer to help you out more.

I will be happy to answer your further concern. Kindly know me.
Thank you for contact to health care magic.
Dr Arun Tank
Infectious disease specialist.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Arun (25 minutes later)

I dont have the lab results on me. But the initial antibody test came back as reactive and then the lab called and said they have had a lof of false negatives with this test and that reran the hpc rna test on the sample and it was fine. The results looked like this

Hpc rna
Undetected <1.8. <1.8

They might have been in iu/mls, but i cant be certain. He also had another antibody test that came out non reactive from another lab but now im concerned again.

Could the 1.8 not be his number but just a reference range since its identical to the other column?

Also how likely is it that hep c is transmitted sexually?

Answered by Dr. Arun (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hepatitis C Virus negative as copies are < 1.8.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

- I think the unit must be Copies of RNA/ ml.

- The cut off should be 1.8 or 2 × 100000 copies/ml. Some companies gives 1.8 and some 2 as reference range. In your case I think the cut of is 1.8.

- As you have values less than 1.8, you are negative for Hepatitis C virus infection.

- Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is in the long list of Sexually Transmitted Disease. Globally blood transfusion is the major cause of HCV infection, IDU's followed by sexually transmitted diseases.

I will be happy to answer your further concern. Kindly know me.
Thank you for contact to health care magic.
Dr Arun Tank
Infectious disease specialist.
Thank you.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E