It is quite different here in Serbia and it surely is not better than in UK. I’ve sent a query to other laboratory to tell me the lower limit for their test.
From what I’ve heard, that laboratory is subcontracted to the laboratory where I had my test done. However, the same test is almost double in price (app. 80 EUR Vs. 170 EUR) so I believe it could be more accurate. In that case, I will have to do another one.

Unfortunately, it is very hard to reach my specialist (or any other for that matter). I have to wait the end of this month to call them and schedule a meeting for September, if I am lucky. Even after that, it is very unlikely that they can order PCR HCV – they do it only in case when somebody is on treatment (budgeted by NHS, lets call it that way).

So, I decided to have all tests prepared (as if I am starting with Redemption), and I will decide which way to go.

Hi Price,

shouldn’t it say UNDETECTED in case it is ‘cleared’? Talking about quantitative PCR…

In my case, negative qualitative PCR 6 months after the end of peginf/riba treatment. 4 years after that, quantity was between 3-4.000 IU/ml (detection limit is not stated in results!) and now, 10 years after the therapy it is <250.

From what I read, quantitative results are stated either as undetected, upper limit.
http://fixhepc.com/forum/viral-load-and-svr/364-viral-load-quantitative-vs-qualitative.html

I just had a call from a doctor who performs these quantitative tests. She said that <250 means that they cannot say either positive or negative. There may be a small quantity of virus present, but it could be that it is not there. (excuse me, what am I paying for??) I will call her tomorrow when she is in the lab again, so she will take another look at my results. She says that some conclusions can be drawn from 'appearance of curves or whatever she looks at'. (that is my interpretation, I could not listen scientific rationales, I wanted a clear statement)
She suggested to do qualitative test to be sure. I will, if she pays for it

Now, my specialist says that result <250 means that the virus is still present. I trust this doctor and I feel that she is right. I feel it right below my right set of ribs...

Anyway, I gave blood sample for genotype test today, expecting results in 7-10 days. Does anyone know, would testing of genotype result in (conclusive) determination of genotype, in case that the patient was previously treated and reached SVR52, for example?

Hello everyone,

an update, as I had found many useful info by reading other people posts (thank you all ), so mine could be of help to someone..
Started with generic Harvoni three weeks ago. Very mild sides, random neck, muscle or joint pain. If so…

Beside that, feeling excellent most of the time. More chatty, energized, maybe even high at the moments… Hope it is going to last during the whole therapy

More important, I hope that this drug will do what it was invented for. Although my LFT was good since INF/RIB therapy (never had higher AST/ALT in 10 years, checked at least annually; other results OK too, only slightly higher cholesterol), I didn’t feel good at all last couple of years. That’s what brought me here, two or three months ago when I felt more crappy than usually. I wanted to check if something has changed in HepC world and discovered this wonderful world of generic DAA’s.

Anyway, because of my odd baseline scores (very low VL, normal blood results) and due to the fact that I could not reach my doctor to tell him about the therapy and ask for opinion, I’ve decided not to test VL during the treatment. It is going to be hard not to see the progress in written, I can only hope that ALT will show some good signals. Slim chances tho, steady 17-21 last couple of years.

The only thing that bothers me is that Fibroscan is not up to date. Makes me a bit uncertain if 12 weeks is going to be sufficient.

To whom it may concern:
– taking the meds 1-2 h after the dinner. It makes me wanna eat, and eat, and eat some more…
– strange feeling (numbness sort of) in my hands circa 10th day of therapy. After that, I started feeling hands like they are mine again. Somebody wrote similar in other post, I think
– smoking, well I am vaping! E-cigs! I know it is not wise, but it seems I cant get rid of it…
– reduced coffee to two cups per day, and one cup of green tea in late afternoon
– avoiding carbohydrates as much as possible (sweets, pasta etc.) Eating better ones.
– enough water, not drowning in it. around 2.5-3 l
– Vit D, vit B
– alco free, of course

Take care, everyone