Pregnant. Hep C Test Done. Got A False Positive Test During Last Pregnancy. What Are The Chances Of Having It Again?

Posted on Fri, 3 Aug 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 Answered on

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife is pregnant. She had the Hep C test, and it came back active. This is the second time this has happened. During her last pregnancy this happened and eventually we were told that it was a false-positive.

My question is, if someone has had a false-positive in the past, is it likely that she could have it again?

Answered by Dr. Mayank Bhargava (6 hours later)

Hi,
Thanks XXXXXX,
Yes. there are few condition in which Hep C antibody test may come positive.
False positive anti-HCV tests happen more often in persons such as blood donors who are at low risk for hepatitis C.
Persons with early HCV infection might not yet have developed antibody levels high enough that the test can measure.
You should go for liver function test and HCV RNA, PCR and genotype of HCV.
If all these test suggest presence of virus in your body then there is no question regarding false positive HCV test.
Put your query if you hava.
Best regards,
Dr. Mayank

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mayank Bhargava (12 hours later)

Still not really understanding your answer.

I asked, if some people just read as false-postive for Hep C test?

She is not a blood donor.

Answered by Dr. Mayank Bhargava (46 minutes later)

Hi,
yes..it is possible that if a patient had false positive test for Hep C in past, then it may come again false positive presently.
As there is no test available which can make difference between true positive and false positive Hep C test.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mayank Bhargava

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar