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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?
Question: I was taking the oral 500 mg Metronidazole (flagyl) antibiotic pills twice a day for about 5-7 days when I took a Hepatitis C antibody blood test. The results came back negative, but could this medication have affected my results or caused a false negative result??
I also saw that Metronidazole could sometimes cause leukopenia. Could that have affected the results at all??
Can I rely on my negative results??
I also saw that Metronidazole could sometimes cause leukopenia. Could that have affected the results at all??
Can I rely on my negative results??
Brief Answer:
Hep C is a virus; Flagyl does not kill viruses.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I can understand why you would be concerned about this, and yes, it would be an issue - taking an antibiotic while being tested for bacteria - but Flagyl kills bacteria and Hepatitis C is not a bacterium, it is a virus. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
About the leukopenia: If it was severe or profound, I suppose theoretically it could interfere with the antibody test. But it would be rare to have severe leukopenia from a 1 week course of Flagyl 500 mg 2x/dy. And you would likely be pretty sick from leukopenia of that degree.
The Hepatitis C antibody test detects your body's formation of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus. Those antibodies are already present in your body prior to the test. I do not think metronidazole will affect that in any way.
I hope this information helps.
Hep C is a virus; Flagyl does not kill viruses.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I can understand why you would be concerned about this, and yes, it would be an issue - taking an antibiotic while being tested for bacteria - but Flagyl kills bacteria and Hepatitis C is not a bacterium, it is a virus. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
About the leukopenia: If it was severe or profound, I suppose theoretically it could interfere with the antibody test. But it would be rare to have severe leukopenia from a 1 week course of Flagyl 500 mg 2x/dy. And you would likely be pretty sick from leukopenia of that degree.
The Hepatitis C antibody test detects your body's formation of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus. Those antibodies are already present in your body prior to the test. I do not think metronidazole will affect that in any way.
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My prescription was metronidazole 500mg 2x/day for 10 days. So basically it is very rare for this 10 day prescription to cause a severe leukopenia, correct?
And you are also saying that if I did have severe leukopenia I would know because I would feel sick?
Can I rely on my negative test results?
And you are also saying that if I did have severe leukopenia I would know because I would feel sick?
Can I rely on my negative test results?
Brief Answer:
Yes I think you can rely on your negative test results.
Detailed Answer:
I could not find any research on metronidazole causing false negatives on Hep C antibody (ELISA) test. There is some consideration that people can have a false negative who have HIV, but that is going to be a more severe immune suppression than the rare transient leukopenia from Flagyl.
People do not always feel sick from the low white count (leukopenia) but they get very severe infections.
By the way, the leukopenia with Flagyl is transient. The white count comes back up to normal immediately after the course of Flagyl is over.
Did you have an exposure to Hepatitis C that caused you to have the antibody test done?
Yes I think you can rely on your negative test results.
Detailed Answer:
I could not find any research on metronidazole causing false negatives on Hep C antibody (ELISA) test. There is some consideration that people can have a false negative who have HIV, but that is going to be a more severe immune suppression than the rare transient leukopenia from Flagyl.
People do not always feel sick from the low white count (leukopenia) but they get very severe infections.
By the way, the leukopenia with Flagyl is transient. The white count comes back up to normal immediately after the course of Flagyl is over.
Did you have an exposure to Hepatitis C that caused you to have the antibody test done?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I just get routine tests done to be saf. I think i just have severe anxiety more than anything and worry about everything. I just wanted to make sure the medicine wouldnt affect my results.e
Brief Answer:
Ok
Detailed Answer:
Without any significant Hepatitis C exposure (IV drug abuse, etc) I think you are quite safe. And I think the Flagyl shouldn't be a problem.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Ok
Detailed Answer:
Without any significant Hepatitis C exposure (IV drug abuse, etc) I think you are quite safe. And I think the Flagyl shouldn't be a problem.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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