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What Does My Hepatitis-C Viral Test Report Indicate?

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Posted on Fri, 21 Aug 2015
Question: One of my relative went through Hepatitis C Viral Test and her results showed the following data:

Test Name:
HEPATITIS C VIRAL (HCV RNA) QUANTITATIVE,
REAL TIME PCR @

Results & Units
0000 & IU/mL

Could you tell me how severe it is and what approach should be taken. And can this be cured at all? Is this life threatening.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Treatment for hepatitis C virus followed by regular follow up required.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
The test hepatitis viral load quantitative is done to detect the number of copies of viral RNA in blood.
The test results in your relative's case are very high and suggest a hepatitis C infection.
The hepatitis C infection needs to be treated with suitable anti-viral drugs.
After treatment is started, the viral load is repeated at regular intervals most commonly at 4 weeks and at 6 months.
The viral load should decrease by more than 2 logs IU/mL and it should be undetectable by 6 months to call it an adequate response.
Hepatitis C infection can turn chronic is significant number of cases and chronic hepatitis C is a risk factor for developing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
If the virus copies are undetected at the end of 6 months, the patient is considered cured else the treatment may have to be repeated.
Thus, I suggest you to consult your referring doctor for start of treatment at the earliest.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shailja Puri (7 minutes later)
Is this infectious and if so in which way?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hepatitis C infection spreads by blood and sexual route.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
Hepatitis C infection is transmitted via blood and blood products.
Thus, infection can spread by blood transfusion or by sexual route.
Blood transfusion is not a common route of transmission because blood banks screen for hepatitis C infection.
Moreover an infected person should not donate blood.
Sexual route is a common route of transmission thus unprotected sex should be avoided till infection clears away.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri

Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shailja Puri

Pathologist and Microbiologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 9705 Questions

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What Does My Hepatitis-C Viral Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: Treatment for hepatitis C virus followed by regular follow up required. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic. The test hepatitis viral load quantitative is done to detect the number of copies of viral RNA in blood. The test results in your relative's case are very high and suggest a hepatitis C infection. The hepatitis C infection needs to be treated with suitable anti-viral drugs. After treatment is started, the viral load is repeated at regular intervals most commonly at 4 weeks and at 6 months. The viral load should decrease by more than 2 logs IU/mL and it should be undetectable by 6 months to call it an adequate response. Hepatitis C infection can turn chronic is significant number of cases and chronic hepatitis C is a risk factor for developing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. If the virus copies are undetected at the end of 6 months, the patient is considered cured else the treatment may have to be repeated. Thus, I suggest you to consult your referring doctor for start of treatment at the earliest. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri