Brief Answer:
Indeterminate HIV result, Hepatitis C treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to Health care magic.

Indeterminate HIV results need to be confirmed by a repeat test after two weeks, 1 month and 3 months.

If two consecutive test results come positive then it is considered positive.
If two consecutive test results come negative then it is considered negative.

Hepatitis C treatment:

Interferon alone or Interferon with Ribavirin (antiviral) are used for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection.

About 6 mega units of Interferon thrice weekly for 6-12 months is the usual regimen. However longer regimens may be required depending of response to treatment.

The response to treatment needs to be monitored by PCR assays for HCV.

Unfortunately, good response to therapy is seen in about 50% of cases only. Half of these 50% who have responded to the therapy may show relapse once the treatment is withdrawn.

Total clearance has been achieved in about 20% or less cases.

The outcome of the treatment depends on:
a) The patients age (younger age, better prognosis)
b) Duration of infection (Prolonged infection has worst prognosis, may lead to liver cancer)
c) The presence of cirrhosis before the treatment
d) High viral load
e) HCV genotype
The response is better in patients with type 2 and type 3 genotypes and poor with genotype 1.

I suggest you get in touch with your treating doctor and discuss the treatment options best suitable for you.

It would be great if you could upload the reports of test results on the link provided on the webpage to help me confirm the results.

I hope I have cleared your doubts and please do not hesitate to get back if any more clarifications required.

Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
HCV viral load

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back.

I understand your concern and worry.

Definitely age helps to get good response to therapy.

High viral load will require longer duration of therapy.

Your doctors are trying to assess your HCV viral load and then decide on treatment.

Indeterminate HIV results have to be confirmed by repeat testing.

Please ask your doctor to determine the genotype of the HCV infection you have so that prognosis can be decided.

Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
You are welcome

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.

Good luck.

Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
HIV indeterminate result

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.

p24, p55 - core proteins of HIV
p51 - polymerase protein of HIV
gp40 - glycoprotein of HIV envelope

These proteins play an important role in detection of HIV as there are many tests which detect these proteins directly or antibodies against them.

Example: PCR - directly detects p24, p55, viral RNA etc
Western blot test detects antibodies against almost all the proteins.
ELISA detects antibodies mainly against envelope proteins like gp40, gp120 etc.

Each test has a cut off value to say it is positive and this is decided by the manufacturer of the test kit.(brand)

Indeterminate result means confusion regarding the result (positive/negative) and hence has to be confirmed by repeat test.

Thanks.

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