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What Is Meant By Borderline Hepatitis C Infection?
Question: My wife was told she has borderline hep c at her midwives office. She is pregnant with our third baby.
She has hep b, which we new from our first pregnancy but nothing was ever positive for hep c. Her midwive told her that she has borderline hep c and that they will do another blood test in 5 weeks at her next visit. They did not do and blood work today. They said there is nothing to worry about. I was also tested for hiv, hbv I am not sure if they tested me for Hcv and the result was that I am hep b positive. We don't do drugs, no tattoos, no blood transfusions and no sex with other people. How can her result come like this.
Please help I am freaking out.
She has hep b, which we new from our first pregnancy but nothing was ever positive for hep c. Her midwive told her that she has borderline hep c and that they will do another blood test in 5 weeks at her next visit. They did not do and blood work today. They said there is nothing to worry about. I was also tested for hiv, hbv I am not sure if they tested me for Hcv and the result was that I am hep b positive. We don't do drugs, no tattoos, no blood transfusions and no sex with other people. How can her result come like this.
Please help I am freaking out.
Brief Answer:
There is nothing like Borderline Hepatitis C
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I think your midwife is not sure enough about the status of Hepatitis C. Without good blood work no one can be diagnosed for sure about Hep C or Hep B. Since the blood work was not done, you should ask a MD further than worrying about Midwives opinion.
Though the routes of transmission of Hep C are similar that of Hep B, I would not comment on Hepatitis C unless I have a reasonable blood work in the form of HBcAg or Anti IgG. Second, there is nothing like Borderline Hep C.
So the next step for you is to stop worrying, knock the door of MD (Gastroenterologist) or Hepatologist.
Hope this answers your worry and question.
There is nothing like Borderline Hepatitis C
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I think your midwife is not sure enough about the status of Hepatitis C. Without good blood work no one can be diagnosed for sure about Hep C or Hep B. Since the blood work was not done, you should ask a MD further than worrying about Midwives opinion.
Though the routes of transmission of Hep C are similar that of Hep B, I would not comment on Hepatitis C unless I have a reasonable blood work in the form of HBcAg or Anti IgG. Second, there is nothing like Borderline Hep C.
So the next step for you is to stop worrying, knock the door of MD (Gastroenterologist) or Hepatologist.
Hope this answers your worry and question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
When I googled borderline hep c result It said that this means they found antibodies in the blood to hep c and that they have to do further testing to find out if the virus is active or not, but I am more worried on where she could have gotten this when she did not have this with our first 2 children. And they probably tested her for hep c as well. My wife went to the midwife by herself and she thinks that the midwive said your hep c results are borderline close to having hep c. This sounds Impossible. From what I understand you ether have hep c or you don't. And also can the results be wrong because she has hep b.
Brief Answer:
Confused about HBcAb
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It may be possible that your midwife had confused HBcAb with Hep C. HBcAb is the antibody against core antigen of Hepatitis B. Just confirm if it is Anti Hepatitis C antibody or HBcAb.
If it is Hepatitis C antibody you still have chances to come out clear because 1 out of 5 times the body clears the infection itself but still the body can prepare antibodies against it. 4 out of 5 times it will not be able to clear and leads to chronic infection. This is a chronic Hep C infection.
Yes you will have Hep C chronic infection by testing with PCR technique if it is positive. You do not have Hep C if the PCR technique is negative.
Confused about HBcAb
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It may be possible that your midwife had confused HBcAb with Hep C. HBcAb is the antibody against core antigen of Hepatitis B. Just confirm if it is Anti Hepatitis C antibody or HBcAb.
If it is Hepatitis C antibody you still have chances to come out clear because 1 out of 5 times the body clears the infection itself but still the body can prepare antibodies against it. 4 out of 5 times it will not be able to clear and leads to chronic infection. This is a chronic Hep C infection.
Yes you will have Hep C chronic infection by testing with PCR technique if it is positive. You do not have Hep C if the PCR technique is negative.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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