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HCV positive or diagnosed with HCV?What does it mean to be diagnosed with Hepatitis C? For some people it means that someone has just told them that they tested positive for antibodies to hepatitis C. So, if you are screened for hepatitis C, which seems to be what everyone is calling getting tested for HCV antibodies these days, having a positive result means that you tested positive for HCV antibodies. If you are lucky, you will be one of the people who go on to rid themselves of the virus entirely. So you haven't really been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C then, right? More tests are needed before you are said to be diagnosed with hepatitis C. And even then you may not need to start treatment immediately. Planning everything out could take months or even a year or two. New drugs are also being studied in clinical trials. Unless your doctor is very clear that it is time to start treatment for HCV and you are able to pay for it and manage the effects it will have on your job or school or life - take a breather and figure out how you are going to approach treating chronic hepatitis C. So, if you test positive for antibodies to HCV you need follow up tests to determine if you are going to be diagnosed with HCV. Some of those tests are pretty expensive, but if you are going to start treatment, you really need to have them done. You're going to need to work out a strategy to pay for them. Contact us, or work with your doctor's office or a case management agency or community based group in your area. |
Hepatitis C TreatmentsThe state of art treatment for chronic Hepatitis C infection is pegylated interferon taken with ribavirin. Peginterferon is a once a week shot, while ribavirin is taken twice a day as pills. This combination treatment is effective in about 50% of people who take it for the required amount of time. Treatment usually lasts for 24 to 48 weeks, based on the kind (or genotype) of hepatitis C you have. In the United States, most people have genotype 1a or 1b. This is the hardest genotype to treat. There are many experimental treatments being studied for Hepatitis C. A Hepatitis C vaccine is also being studied. There is not a vaccine against Hepatitis C now. Hepatitis C can be transmitted through unprotected sex, contaminated blood, re-used needles, a contaminated multi-use medication vial, shaving razors, drug snorting devices, and by sharing a toothbrush with someone with Hepatitis C. Many people got infected decades ago when it was unknown how the virus was spread. It is important that everyone get tested for liver disease, either by having a simple to perform and inexpensive ALT test conducted, or by having a panel of liver tests done. We encourage people to request Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B screening from their doctor's office or practice, a clinic or blood bank when they donate blood on a regular basis. Receiving a negative antibody test does not make you immune to Hepatitis C. Anyone with an abnormal ALT test or a positive Hepatitis C or B antibody test should have follow up tests done as soon as possible. There are many new drug combinations being studied for HCV treatment, and some for Hepatitis B. |
Hepatitis Resources
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