Pcr test fo hep c?

im getting complicting information, can a pcr test tell a person if they have hep c?,,secondly how long does one have to wait after exposure to the disease before they have a pcr test?

Pcr test fo hep c?
A PCR can verify that a person has chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) because the first test that is usually done is an antibodies test. If you have the antibodies, it just means you've been exposed to the virus. About 15-20% of the people exposed to HCV get rid of the virus through their own immune system. The rest go on to have chronic infection. The PCR can determine if the person still has it, or if they have cleared it. If they have cleared it, they will have an undetectable viral level. If they have not, they will have a viral level of some number greater than the lowest number the tests is able to detect. For example: if the test that particular lab uses detects to %26lt;600 IU's, and the results show a number such as %26lt;600, that means the test couldn't detect any virus. If the number is anything above 600 IU's, it will tell you the number (such as 5 million IU's, or 620,000 IU's) . The best PCR tests detect to %26lt;5 IU's, so in that case, any number above 5 will be detected indicating chronic infection. The numbers are typically in the millions or hundred thousands.


HCV can be detected through an antibody test anywhere from 2-24 weeks after exposure, so if you were tested early (like 3 weeks after exposure) you may want to retest at 6 months post exposure to be sure of the results. Hope this helps, Best wishes.


PS. FYI- viral loads can fluctuate, so if you indeed have chronic infection, your doctor may want to repeat the PCR tests once a year, or more often if you are on treatment.
Reply:Yes, and a week