TOPIC:

I'm wondering if you got conflicting results for the two tests or just qualitative detected for the first which looked only at whether there was any presence and then an undetected at levels higher than 12 for the second result but they didn't bother to look for dectection below 12 because they already knew you had a detected qualitative result?

I think the issue at the moment is that we are at the forefront of what is happening with DAAs particularly in Australia so best practice still needs development and fine tuning. As more people go through the treatment process I don't doubt that we will see changes to the type and timing of these tests. I was even reading a Hepatology paper the other day where the comment was made that with time we will probably move to DAA treatments where the standard of care is to only test qualitative both pre treatment and then at SRV12 or 24 for most non cirrhosis patients. When you think about it this makes sense in the long term, after all when our GP prescribes antibiotic Tx he doesn't arrange blood tests before prescribing then tell us to come back in 3 days for further tests to see if they are working. Obviously this is a fair way off for HCV Tx but maybe in 5 or 10 years time?

Maybe that is what happened. It's the only way I can make any sense of it. Either way, someone determined that the virus was still detected at that point, so I'll go with that. It just must've been a low reading. A detected under <12 would've been a lot clearer though!

I think you're right about the testing. Eventually with time and experience they are bound to reduce the monitoring for majority of people. I will have another test at EOT and then I'm not sure what they intend to do post Tx.

I am feeling relieved. In the last couple of weeks I started imagining all kinds of things, that I hadn't responded at all and started feeling more tired and down than I had in the beginning. I think the intial uplift was more from the sense of relief and hope for the future. It really is an overwhelming rush after so much time spent waiting. It really is amazing what power the mind has over our wellbeing!

I owe a big thanks to Adam at Kingswood, Dr Freeman and everyone who works behind the scenes for all that you have done and continue to do to give people this opportunity. I am so grateful to be able to take this journey and I couldn't have done it without the wealth of info here and the forum. Seeing others stories gave me the confidence to take the plunge!

Best wishes to you all, may you all reach undetected

Jaz wrote: I am feeling relieved. In the last couple of weeks I started imagining all kinds of things, that I hadn't responded at all and started feeling more tired and down than I had in the beginning. I think the intial uplift was more from the sense of relief and hope for the future. It really is an overwhelming rush after so much time spent waiting. It really is amazing what power the mind has over our wellbeing!

^^^^ This!

I felt exactly the same way until I got my <15 result. Since then I've been quite content to wait for 12wk test, which is due to be taken next week....time flies! (I am on 24wks Tx though)

I agree about the uplift and would also include finally having a feeling of being in control of my destiny again.

Wow! Time does fly! I got a bit confused for a minute there because you waited so long for your 4 week results. Fantastic. Are you getting a qualitative this time?

Hi Jaz,

Yeah, the delay is what happens when your test results don't make it back before Xmas then your clinic shuts for two weeks (except for emergencies and while I thought mine was....I wasn't quite sure they would ) and then needs to be rerun, so lots of delays.

Just checked my specialist's pathology request and think it is just for qualitative but he has noted "12 weeks" against it so not sure what that means. Anyway I plan to be UND by then so not a problem.

Gaj wrote: Anyway I plan to be UND by then so not a problem.

Absolutely!!

Great news for You Jaz to finally get it sorted and be UND

I too have noticed the difference in 'ranges' for blood tests between different Pathology Clinics. I was with one Dr for 8 years and I used the same Pathology clinic, then he moved away about 6 months ago and I had to change Dr and Path. I noticed their ranges for LFT's and other blood items were different, as was the Path Dept within the Public Hospital. Also, the VL's - some do <12 and others <15.

I won't be able to get my 1st bloods done until week 5 - 6 - so I'm really only interested in whether I'm responding, since my sx aren't giving a positive guide.

All the best with the rest of Tx

Thanks Chejai!

Wishing you all the best for your Tx and und (or close) when you get your test

Congrats Jaz, me too I was emotional when I got my tests back at six weeks: under 30, and at 12 weeks it was under 12...
SO, hang in there!
Love it how people are changing overhere!!!!! xxx

Correction: at 2 weeks it was under 12 and at 6 weeks under 30...later undetected...but only a good hospital test counts

Life wrote: Congrats Jaz, me too I was emotional when I got my tests back at six weeks: under 30, and at 12 weeks it was under 12...
SO, hang in there!
Love it how people are changing overhere!!!!! xxx

Thanks Life! I missed your reply until now, sorry for the late reply.

So, I am on the countdown to EOT. 8 pills to go! That 11 weeks has gone so quick.

This whole experience has inspired me. I have the urge to grab life by the horns and get amongst everything. I am usually very reserved and feel like I cant take on too much. But not now. I've enrolled at uni to study health. Ive got this motivation suddenly and have found something I am genuinely interested in. Thinking about the years leading up to infection, the years between diagnosis and now, and now Tx, not to mention other life changing events over the years I feel I have something to offer in this area and I want to make a difference and contribute in some way, hopefully in the area of infectious diseases but who knows where I'll end up.

So many of us finishing up already and soon!! I've missed quite a bit lately and don't think I'll manage to write to everyone individually so I will send my best to everyone here! It's so exciting seeing the SVR results roll through!! Happy txing and SVRing!

Jaz wrote: So, I am on the countdown to EOT. 8 pills to go! That 11 weeks has gone so quick.

So many of us finishing up already and soon!! I've missed quite a bit lately and don't think I'll manage to write to everyone individually so I will send my best to everyone here! It's so exciting seeing the SVR results roll through!! Happy txing and SVRing!

Hi Jaz,
Labs are different.
I experienced something similar with my 8 wks viral load. Hopefully retested at 8,5 and came UND
Time flies so quickly! Almost 3 months of tx. 2 pills to go.

Happy EOT and only UND!

Congrats on getting your undetected result! 2 days to go! Wow, hasn't it gone quickly!

Yes, the labs were confusing but once I had my undetected I could accept it and move on.

Wishing you all the best towards SVR!