TOPIC:

Hi Nick, the minimum blood tests needed before seeing the doctor to get a prescription are :

⦁ Genotype (to know your virus type)
⦁ CMP (to know your liver and kidney functions)
⦁ CBC (to make sure you're not too anaemic and platelets are good)
⦁ HEP B CORE AB, TOTAL to know if you've been exposed to Hepatitis B in the past. If this test is negative, you do not need to do any other Hepatitis B tests.

If you have all the above blood tests, you don't have to do the Fibrosis scan test because the CMP blood test above also reveals the liver fibrosis level. Best of luck today.

Hi Nick,

Your bloodwork should be sufficient to assess fibrosis by APRI (this is from the AST in the liver panel and the platelets in the complete blood count).

The new EASL guidelines have been updated to say just that.

i finally got my lab work done today! Should get results tomorrow and i believe they conducted all the tests required to obtain a prescription from you. My new doctor told me that my insurance should cover the full cost for my treatment but i dont think hes correct. Hes going to refer me to a specialist once my labs come back positive for the virus. I am getting a email copy of my results if i took a screenshot would this be sufficient for you?

Hi Nick, yes, a screenshot should be sufficient for Dr James.

I got my labs in this morning! Here they are for anyone whos interested, i hope its not against posting policy to post such information. If anyone could explain to me which one reveals liver and kidney function that would be awesome.


Name
Sodium Level
Normal Range
134 - 146 mmol/L
Your Results
142 mmol/L
Name
CG eCrCl
Normal Range
N/A
Your Results
134 mL/min/1.73 m2
Name
Calcium Level Total
Normal Range
8.6 - 10.4 mg/dL
Your Results
10.1 mg/dL
Name
Protein Total
Normal Range
6.0 - 8.0 g/dL
Your Results
8.0 g/dL
Name
Albumin Level
Normal Range
3.5 - 5.0 g/dL
Your Results
4.7 g/dL
Name
Bilirubin Total
Normal Range
0.2 - 1.0 mg/dL
Your Results
0.6 mg/dL
Name
Alkaline Phosphatase
Normal Range
40 - 129 IU/L
Your Results
60 IU/L
Name
Alanine Aminotransferase
Normal Range
10 - 40 IU/L
Your Results
76 IU/L
Name
Aspartate Aminotransferase
Normal Range
10 - 40 IU/L
Your Results
43 IU/L
Name
Potassium Level
Normal Range
3.4 - 5.0 mmol/L
Your Results
4.0 mmol/L
Name
Chloride
Normal Range
98 - 112 mmol/L
Your Results
101 mmol/L
Name
HCO3
Normal Range
21 - 29 mmol/L
Your Results
29 mmol/L
Name
Anion Gap
Normal Range
4 - 15 mmol/L
Your Results
12 mmol/L
Name
Glucose Level
Normal Range
70 - 99 mg/dL
Your Results
88 mg/dL
Name
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Normal Range
8 - 20 mg/dL
Your Results
12 mg/dL
Name
Creatinine
Normal Range
0.60 - 1.30 mg/dL
Your Results
0.88 mg/dL
Name
MDRD eGFR
Normal Range
>=60 mL/min/1.73 m2
Your Results
>60



I also tested positive for Hep C but nothing else including hep B

Hi Nick,

Was there a CBC (complete blood count) with platelets in it?

Your results are typical - just some mild elevation of ALT and AST. Your liver and kidneys look in good shape.

If your doctor thinks you can access the treatment on insurance it is definitely worth giving it a go. While the outcomes are not different (generic vs originator) US doctors have no problem monitoring patients who get the originator stuff via insurance, but can be unsympathetic to people getting generics. There is not a lot of monitoring required but it's nice to have local support.

Anyway, there is nothing terrible in those results (but do want to see platelets).

In terms of what is what. Liver tests and Kidney tests are groups of tests

Kidney

• Sodium, Potasium, Chloride are all salts controlled by kidney
• Urea and BUN reflect your level or hydration more than anything
• Your Creatinine is a measure of kidney filtration rate - and anything over 60 ml/min is ok (100 ish is normal)
• Bicarbonate (HCO3) and Anion Gap are measures of blood acidity

Liver

• Bilirubin is a waste product of Red Cell metabolism (haemogobin breakdown) and rises if there is an blockage in the drain pipes from the liver, either in the liver or downstream.
• The liver enzymes LDH, GGT, ALT and AST are released from damaged liver cells so rise with liver disease. If the disease is like Hep C and intrahepatic (in the liver) the ALT and AST go up the most. If the issue is a bile blockage then not only does bilirubin go up so too do the LDH and GGT.
• GGT goes up alone in heavy drinkers.
• Your liver makes proteins (including albumin) so these fall in liver disease

Calcium and Glucose are tests by themselves. Glucose goes up in diabetes of course.

AST = Aspartate Aminotransferase, ALT = Alanine Aminotranferace, LDH = Lactate Dehydrogenase

Thanks for the quick reply, I do not believe the CBC was tested but as soon as I am able to see the specialist I can ask him to do the test. I really hope it doesn't take long 2 get an appointment with the specialist because ultimately I'm just trying to find out how much treatment will be locally. I have yet to get a phone call from the doctor in regards of my lab test, I signed up for their website so I got the results emailed to me as soon as they were available but I'm supposed to get a phone call in regards of the lab test and the specialist so I guess I will update as soon as I get some answers, again thank you so much for the reply..!

Hi Nick
We are all looking forward to you starting tx obviously!
I hope you get your meds soon and start your journey to success!
With your labs you can create a “signature” by going into your own profile and popping up the basic info about your labs and history if relevant.
It’s a terrific way of creating a snapshot of the awesome progress made on tx and beyond. I put my milestones in mine like achieving undetected and SVR as well as my liver functions which were always okay but just got ridiculously good!
You can see all our signatures under our posts to you and on the forum.
With your labs I am sure you’ll be dancing in the sun really soon when you’re on tx and getting your first HCV PCR RNA UND!
Sending you happy vibes
Ariel

Thanks for the encouragement and information
Just a little update, i got a call the other day just stating that i do have the virus and that i should get another call within two weeks after the specialist reviews my labs. It sucks how everything takes so much time, i understand the hospital does not revolve around me but im suppose to go to truck driving school next month and i wanted to bring my treatment with me, aslong as the side effects arnt to crazy..
I dont want to put my treatment on hold for the school because it is my highest priority at this time, just wish things could pick up the pace. :/
Sorry just ranting a bit.

Hi Nick, it sure is frustrating having to wait before being able to start treatment, but at least you're one of the lucky ones who will have access to affordable and extremely effective treatment one way or the other, which sadly can not be said about millions of other patients around the world. Hang in there

You have a very good point. Im just getting real tired of these symptoms, i get really itchy at night and today both my calves are sore like somebody punched them! But on the flip side if i never had gotten any symptoms i sadly wouldnt have looked for treatment. I cant believe some people never experience symptoms after having the virus for years.
I just want to be healthy again
Iv been taking the milk thistle three times a day i hope its doing some.good besides giving me deadly gas lol.

Hey friends just got anotherlab result back of my viral load. Is this alot?


HCV RNA Result
Normal Range
Not Detected
Your Results
Positive
Name
HCV RNA Viral Load
Normal Range
N/A
Your Results
13,603

Hi Nick

Actually you have a very low viral load. Most people see readings in the millions.
Good luck with your upcoming trestment. You should do very well
S

13K is extremely low and viral loads do cycle from high to low by themselves but yours is exceptionally low. If you have access to the test result sheet (or ask your Doctor)and look at the measurement units. Not sure about your country but mine uses IU/mL and then has a multiplier (eg 2.7 X 10E6) which will give you the number of copies per mL. IT may be already in copies/mL and if it is then your system is strong enough to almost beat it and just needs the boost of the treatment to finish the job.

omg well this makes me very happy! Iv had the virus for 6. going on 7 years so i thought my load would be alot higher. I still dont understand why im having all these symptoms associated with the virus if my loads are so low? mainly itchy skin.
Another thing too will my insurance not cover the cost of the treatment since my load are low?
Still waiting on that blasted phone call to come in with my appointment date to see the specialist.
Thank you everyone ♡