what are the causes of false posirive and false negative results of heptitis c virus?

Answer 1

This is rare, but a "false-positive" test means your antibody test shows that you have been exposed to hepatitis C, when in fact you haven't been. For this reason, your doctor will perform other tests to double- or triple-check your results.

Can you have a 'false-negative' result from an anti-HCV test?
Yes. This is also rare, but a "false-negative" test means your results suggest that you have not been exposed to hepatitis C, when in fact you have been. One reason someone could have a false-negative result is that they have been infected with HCV recently and haven't developed enough antibodies for the test to detect them.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Answer 2

Several factor's could lead up to a false negative and false positives, examples are:

~The 3 to 6 months time from the initial infection to having detectable HCV antibodies is called the window period. If testing is done during the window period a false negative result may be obtained. Repeated testing is therefor recommended for those who have may have been recently exposed to HCV.

~A false positive antibody test occurs when other diseases or illnesses cause the test to register positive when, in fact, HCV is not present. A number of diseases including certain immune system disorders may produce false positive HCV antibody test results in people with known HCV risks factors.

~A negative result may mean that:

the person is not infected with HCV, OR

the test was done during the window period (see above), in which case a false negative result may have been obtained, OR

the person is not making detectable amounts of antibody even though they are infected with HCV. This is also known as a false negative result.

~A negative PCR test result may mean

the virus is no longer present in the person (the person has eliminated the virus and no longer has HCV as with about 15% of those in the United States do), OR

the virus is in such low concentration that it is undetectable by this test. The person may still be infected and infectious, OR

the virus is not present in the blood, but may still be in the liver and other tissue.

I must keep reminding folks that you do NOT have to have the main risk factors for HCV. A lot of information regarding HCV and how one can acquire it is outdated.

There are sooooo many ways one can acquire HCV.
Sharing razors or toothbrushes from someone who had HCV, mass innoculations (done in the 70's on children...and I was a victim of this proceedure).

Being a patient of a dentist or having a proceedure done such as getting fingernails groomed by using un-sanitized untensils....many many other ways.

My suggestion is highly recommended that you be retested as many test results can come out wrong, but these days, its highly unlikely as the tests are more conclusive than that of 10 years ago.

Do not believe for once that they say, "well, you must of been infected at one point, but your body fought it off". If your symptoms do not go away or worsen, get retested. Chances are HCV was in a "silent or regrouping" phase. This occurs naturally with HCV, that is why one test will show the ALT and AST levels to be normal, the next abnormal.

I do hope this helped and good luck to you!

Answer 3

There are 2 ways to discover the presence of the virus: antibody detection and discovery of the virus' RNA.


1. Regarding antibody detection:

False negative results early in the course of acute infection result from the prolonged interval between exposure and onset of illness and seroconversion. Within 15 weeks after exposure and within 5-6 weeks after the onset of hepatitis, 80% of patients will have positive test results for serum HCV antibody.

False positive: among infants born to anti-HCV-positive mothers, passively acquired maternal antibody persists for up to 18 months.

2. Regarding RNA:
False positive or negative results can occur from improper handling, storage, and contamination of the test specimens.

Answer 4

the lab that did the test for this mess up is the only way you could have a false positive or negative the blood was too old or the test was not done right.
you need to have them do the test again.

Answer 5

Exposure to an infected person,(if you have been to jail )or having sex with someone who is infected,Y ou may only be a carrier but not show signs of Hepatitis and C is only one type there are many other 's out there.

Answer 6

ITS A FANCY NAME FOR INEFFICIENCY IN TESTING......ITS ONE OR THE OTHER OR SOMEONE MADE A MISTAKE IN TESTING.