A member asked:

If a person has hep c antibodies but a undetectable pcr is it gone or can it be in the body dormant? can it reactivate?

7 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Either is possible: Positive anibody test for Hepatitis C indicates only past exposure. Negative PCR means the virus is undetectable which means it is inactive for the time being but with no guarantee that it had completely disappeared

Answered 6/11/2015

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Dr. David Lipkin answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

See below: If the patient has never been treated for Hep C the (+)antibody test is a false positive and does not have hep C. If the patient has been treated the (-) PCR indicates the patient has had a response to treatment and no virus is detectible. If the test is (-) 3-6 months after treatment ends it is a sustained virological response(SVR).99% of patients with SVR will remain so and are considered cured.

Answered 6/3/2015

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