Hi again, thanks for the update, that is very good news about your negative PCR and must be a huge relief! 

Yes, a raised ALT level is often an indication of liver disease but there are other things that can cause it to rise too, for example certain other infections or medications and even strenuous exercise.  Is your doctor planning to do any more investigations?  This isn`t a medical forum of course so if you`re worried I should think the best thing would be to discuss it with your doctor.

All the best to you, Jill

Got my results today! So the good news is my PCR came back negative and the viral load came back undetectable. So I am feeling pretty great.

However, my ALT has now come back with a level of 149. This isn't majorly high but my doctor is still concerned. 

When I was first diagnosed with Hep C back in 2009, doctors were alerted to my infection by an elevated ALT, however this was around 1400 (more consistent with hep c infections).

This time the doctor has said that if the ALT was risen as a result of a new Hep C infection then this would be reflected in a postive PCR test which I didn't have.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what other things can cause ALT levels to rise?

thank u...

Yes, that`s understandable, waiting for results is never easy.  Let us know how it turns out...and the best of luck to you!   

Hey Jill,

Thanks for the reply, I know I need to wait and what will be will be. It's just turning into a long old week. 

I know that the incident in November might not have anything to do with my current predicament. I think I was just trying to find a way of managing my worry!!

Hi there James, well first of all..don`t panic!   I really can`t say for sure, but it does seem quite possible that the first PCR test you had in November was a `false positive` since the second one was negative.   On the other hand, it can take up to six months for a new HCV infection to multiply enough to show up in a PCR. 

Sorry I can`t give you more reassurance but all you can really do is to wait for the results and hope for the best... and do take care!  ~ Jill

Hi,

I know that I'm kind of asking for someone to make me feel better when really I need to wait for the test, however I just wanted to ask a bit of advice.

I first contracted Hep C in 2009, went through a year of Interferon and got the all clear in November 2010. I am also HIV positive.

I see my HIV doctor every three months and they do a PCR test each time I visit. As you would expect whenever I get the results of this test I test positive for Hep C antibodies (having perviously had Hep C), but PCR negative.

In November I received a PCR test which came back PCR positive, suggesting there was active virus in my blood. They repeated the PCR test which came back PCR negative. They also did an RNA test but this could not be completed due to there being no active virus in the blood.

I also had a liver function test done a week later which came back normal. I realise that the liver function can come back fine even if you do have active virus, however it was an abnormal liver function test that alerted doctors to my infection in 2009.

Anyway, yesterday a sexual partner from the beginning of October contacted me to say that he had been diagnosed with hep c. I have gone straight to my hiv doctor to get tested and get the results next week. 

However, in the meantime I am unsure how much to panic. All the information I have read suggests that if I had contracted the virus in October any active virus would have shown in the PCR test taken at the end of November. 

I am wondering if anyone knows if your viral load can go up and down so dramatically in such a short space of time? As the second PCR test was negative I am concerned that it had just gone down below a level of 12 (the number it becomes undetectable) would a new infection do that?

Anyway, like I said I realise I'm looking for someone to make me feel better but I just wonder if anyone can help with what I'm asking.