What does an indeterminate hep C test mean?
An indeterminate result indicates that HCV-specific IgG antibodies may or may not be present. Indeterminate results should be interpreted along with patient’s risk factors for HCV infection and clinical findings.
Can you get hep C from silverware?
Ways You Won’t Spread Hepatitis C According to the CDC, hepatitis C isn’t spread by sharing silverware or drinking glasses, or through water or foods. Showing affection by holding hands, hugging, or kissing is also safe, Lee says.
What does positive hep C mean?
A positive result means that a person has the hepatitis C virus. A negative result means that the body has cleared the virus without treatment. The second test is the hep C RNA quantitative test.
Is hepatitis B or C more serious?
While hepatitis C tends to get more attention and research funding, hepatitis B is considerably more common and causes more liver-related cancer and death worldwide than hepatitis C. Combined, chronic hepatitis B and C account for approximately 80% of the world’s liver cancer cases.
What do Hep C numbers mean?
The viral load of hepatitis C refers to the amount of virus present in the bloodstream. The quantitative HCV RNA tests measure the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood. The result will be an exact number, such as “1,215,422 IU/L.” Many people refer to the quantitative measurement as the hepatitis C “viral load.”
Will you always test positive for hep C?
A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood. This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood.
What disinfectant kills Hep C?
Bleach kills HCV nearly all the time, and there are other cleaners or disinfectants you can use, too, that also work against the virus. Bleach: Bleach has been shown to kill HCV in more than 99% of contaminated syringes.
Can Hep C live on surfaces?
Ronald ValdiserriA recent study by researchers from the Yale Schools of Medicine and Public Health revealed that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can remain infectious for up to 6 weeks on surfaces at room temperature—resulting in a much longer period for potential transmission than was previously appreciated.
Is it bad to have Hep C antibodies?
► A non-reactive or negative antibody test means that you are not currently infected with the hepatitis C virus. ► However, if you think you might have been exposed to hepatitis C in the last 6 months, you will need to be tested again.
Can you live a normal life with Hep C?
If the disease is caught early and treated, people with hepatitis C can live a normal life. Approximately 3 to 5 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis C, an infection that causes inflammation and scarring in the liver.