An antibody test will only give a positive or negative result. If you get a positive, they may then do a PCR (or the more accurate TMA) to check for how much virus is present. They do this because some people clear the virus on their own, and will have antibodies, but the hep is gone.
Your .8 number sounds like the log of the virus amount. My heptimax test goes down to .7 and is considered VERY accurate.
So if your test says your negative, be thankful.
Brad
yemista said
Jan 20, 2012
I recently took an std test, and for hep c, my count was .1. The test said anything under .8 is negative, but I am worried that that .1 could mean I have it, and just not enough antibodies have shown up yet to give me positive results. Am I worried for nothing, or is it possible I have it?
Hi.
An antibody test will only give a positive or negative result. If you get a positive, they may then do a PCR (or the more accurate TMA) to check for how much virus is present. They do this because some people clear the virus on their own, and will have antibodies, but the hep is gone.
Your .8 number sounds like the log of the virus amount. My heptimax test goes down to .7 and is considered VERY accurate.
So if your test says your negative, be thankful.
Brad
I recently took an std test, and for hep c, my count was .1. The test said anything under .8 is negative, but I am worried that that .1 could mean I have it, and just not enough antibodies have shown up yet to give me positive results. Am I worried for nothing, or is it possible I have it?