Re: HCV/RNA viral loadThanks everyone/Deb

[Guest guest]

I research the HCV/RNA test and when I got the dumb blank faces here

in Sebastian I went to the Director of the Lab. She was very nice and

very helpful in that she hooked me up with the most knowledgeable

people there and answered all my questions. Plus I called Mayo's lab

to make sure the tests were going to be identical. Hah thats a joke

so many factors determine the results. Using the right specimen

container and fluid, having the plasma spun out and separated within

2 hours and freezing it to a certain temperature. Then you have the

people at the lab in MN who process your specimen. IT MUST BE DONE

WITHIN 4 DAYS!!!! Of course I checked and the lab in MN did not do

that PLUS there was a concern about cross contamination so 10 DAYS!

later I get my first viral load test which of course was not zero but

it did go from a 225,000 to 810 Piss me off I get stuck doing 7

months instead of 6 because of them!!!! I went so BS on everyone that

now they know I am watching and when they see my name it BEST be done

correctly.

So yes Mayo's lab and LabCorp do the exact same test in the exact

same way. This is why I wonder what is going on that they need me to

come back in December when they said I did not need to go back till

March Still waiting for them to mail my test results from

11/17/08. Hopefully the blood work will give me an idea of what kind

of torture is in store for me My Tx nurse ain't talkin other than

to say she thinks its best. I do not argue with Mayo if I want to

stay pre-qualified for a liver transplant.

>

>

> I went to Mayo Clinic 11/17 and they did a viral load test. I am

still

> a <10 but my Tx nurse said I am showing as a positive???

How

> can that be? My test results in Sebastian show a <10 with no

detectable

> virus in my blood. How can it be that Mayo gets the same <10 results

> with a positive????

>

> Because <10 is the best results possible from the latest viral load

test on the market.  The way they phrased it was very confusing to

you.  You also need to make sure using 2 different labs same type of

viral load testing was done using the same grading scale and

results.  There are many different types of tests and ways of

reporting the results.  Viral load testing reporting and results is

not all standardized the same across the board at all labs.  

>  

> There is no other viral load test or sophisticated enough yet or

may never be to check for true 0 HCV viral cells embedded though-out

the body just like there is no test to check for true 0 cancer cells

embedded throughout the body. 

>  

> Instead of being upset you should be very happy you received the

lowest best score possible from tx for HCV viral load testing and for

your stage which is amazing.

>  

> There are no definite medical answers - yes - no - solutions -

fixes - cures for many medical questions or diseases just like for

HCV and cancers.

>  

> A <10 which is excellent during or right after finishing tx is

still considered a + for HCV since there is no sure cure for HCV and

no sure test to true 0 viral load.  A less than 10 is not a true

0.  A few cells may remain and can go into a type of dormant state.  

It is a long time wait and see process after finishing tx follow-up

viral load testing remaining at <10 for being considered and

remaining a long term responder to tx.   Just like for cancer pt's

after tx's a wait and see process follow-up care to show if tx worked

cancer cells have not returned and chronic again.

>  

> Once HCV+ even after being a long term responder to tx a person can

not donate blood.  The possibility of HCV cells is still there and

should still use blood and sharps biohazardous precautions.  It is

always better to be safe than sorry later.  We will always show + for

the hcv antigen produced by our body and immune system trying to

fight off HCV.  The antigen is not HCV.

>  

> Since there is no sure cure yet for HCV not even with a liver

transplant once HCV+ we carry a HCV dx medical history for life

either as chronic ongoing or cleared as a long term responder to tx. 

Just like cancer pt's will always carry a medical history of having

cancer.

>  

> From HCV tx it is worded as cleared a responder to tx <10 than

after staying at <10 for some time considered as a long term

responder to tx.  There are no 100 guarantees in medicine and in life.

>  

> We just make the best of it and of our lives.

>  

> Dr's and us are never really 100 certain at this time because of no

sure cure or no sure true 0 viral load test yet.

>  

> Our medical care and dx's with HCV even after clearing from tx

is on an individual pt basis considering many factors geno - possible

multiple geno's - how long how many years with it - how chronic it

was - how well HCV established body wide - dx's complications related

to it or our other prior dx's made worse by it - stage/grade of

liver - how much permanent damage to liver - if enough possible

ongoing progressions of liver disease even if at <10 viral load after

tx.

>  

> Why tx is best and becoming remaining clear <10 as early as

possible and before HCV becomes too well established and too much

permanent or ongoing liver damage and other damage from related

dx's.  

>       

> Honey crying all day is no solution and I hope you and hubby get

everything worked out very soon and you start to feel better. 

>  

>      

> All The Best to Both of You.

>  

> Deb

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