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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> 3 Week VL Test
Post Info TOPIC: 3 Week VL Test
Huey


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RE: 3 Week VL Test
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What my Dr. has done is to test my VL   only 2x so far.  but every month he does other test and a followup by the CPN  The Genotype makes a differance aswell.

you can expect certin things from one genotype but not others.  some genotypes have uniquie proppertys with differant effects.  In my case with genotype 3a an (Extended RVR ) is typical.



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  HCV Genotype 3a , now Psot-Tx was on S/riba. First VL was 5.8 mil on 7-5-13 then "und" at 3.8 weeks. 06/13/14 still und. off meds 3 days back on 7/29 Last pill 08/10/14 SVR+4

 
Omnamahshivaya


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Thank you Tig!!! That's great information. Keep you posted :



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OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Tig


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Hi J,

Nice to talk with you again! I'm glad everything is going well and that Fibroscan report is excellent, congrats on that! I have no idea why your doctor wants to do the VL's so frequently, it isn't required that frequently and since you're not on a study, I have to believe he's doing it for his own curiosity. It's not yours obviously, even though it might be interesting as you move forward with treatment. When you see him next, just make sure they are obtaining pre authorization from your insurance company. It's an expensive test and they don't want to pay for them unnecessarily. I wouldn't refuse to take the tests as long as they're being covered by insurance. Just put the question out there and let your doctor answer it. If your insurance company won't pay for unnecessary tests, that's reason to tell your doctor that the extra tests are his responsibility if he wants to keep doing them. That will usually control their curiousity! 

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Omnamahshivaya


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Tig; They are having me do the first test at week 2 also. And then I think it's another / weeks after that but maybe 4 after that. I'm not in a trial ( though this doc acts like I am) and I am on 12 weeks. My VL is over 14 million so I'm scared it may not work. But regardless, can I refuse to go every 2 weeks? I do want to see the first 2 week marker to see how I'm progressing but if it looks positive, can I just go in once every 4 weeks? My doc only refilled my meds for the first 2 refills: not the final 4 weeks. Uggg feels controlling but I don't want to argue just heal. Maybe he wants $ for office visits...? He insisted I do the $350 fibroscan which came back F0 - F1 Thank you

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OMJ - started treatment April 25, 2014

Prior to treatment VL 14 million. Liver Levels Abnormal but under 70.

Sovaldi/Olysio

VL: SOT = 14 million.    SOT +2 weeks = 28

AST/ALT: Normal

Week # 7 = UND
Caryn


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Thanks everyone. I think my brain went straight back to last year when I had the viral breakthrough. I was hoping for the UND since I was at 200 in just one week, then two full weeks later the virus is still detectable.  I still realize this is a very small number and it has not even been 4 weeks, so I managed to calm myself down.  I do not know why the nurse is doing these tests at 1 week and 3 weeks. I am going back for a 5 week too, then I see the Dr. at 6 weeks. 



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1a, CT. Incivek triple 1/2013, vl 810 @ 2 weeks, 610 @ 4 weeks, 3000 @ 8 weeks, tx stopped. 

4/2014 - tx with Sovaldi/Olysio/Riba. VL 39 mil. - VL 230 @ 1 week, VL 40 @ 3 weeks, 5 weeks UND, EOT - UND, EOT @ 4 weeks UND, EOT @ 12 weeks UND!
Tig


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You make a good point Lee. I understand the individual desire to know where you stand regarding the viral load once you start treatment, but the number of tests given lead me to question why they are performing them so often. Certainly I understand the need when there is a study being performed and they need to know exactly when and at what stage the viral load began it's descent into oblivion. But I wonder Caryn, why you had this test performed at week 1 and week 3? Standard testing protocol for the 12 week treatments is at week 4 and if detected, again at week 8, but if undetected at week 4, they wait to do the next until EOT and then again at EOT +12. I'm still in an appeal process with my insurance over the necessity and subsequent cost of a viral load test that fell outside of the "standard testing protocol". They are an expensive test and many carriers will disapprove requests for them when there is no special requirement to do it. Curiosity doesn't count unfortunately, because it does help to know in some cases, but as Lee mentioned, knowing too much, too soon, can lead to confusion when there shouldn't be. Try to not read too much into it. I know that in my HCV life, I spent endless hours searching, reading and imagining things that I didn't need to be worrying about. We aren't the same and we all react just a little differently to treatment than the next person. It's the end of treatment results that we all strive to share and that's going to be the SVR we all fight hard to achieve. Relax and don't do too much reading, especially between the lines. You've got enough things keeping you awake at night! 

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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longld


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Caryn,

   a clue to value of these testings are the names, 4 week testing is called rapid vl test, 12 weeks is called early vl tests.  I am surprised at the number of people who get these real early tests - they may cause more angst than worth.   I am waiting on my first vl test now at twelve weeks!  Note that I am gen 3 and am on 26 wk treatment.....



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62 Yrs Old, CHC Geno 3, Cirrhosis, Kidney Transplant (13 yrs), On Sovaldi/Riba Treatment (24 week) since Feb 01,2014

Viral Load 7M on 1/8/2014,  UND at EOT 7/18/2014
Tig


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Hi Caryn,

Try not to be disappointed. Those results are great! I haven't seen anyone else be undetectable after three weeks either. Most aren't given a first VL until week 4 anyway, and since you're at 40 now, my money is on you being UND by your next test. It wasn't too long ago that these tests couldn't test below 43 and you would've been below that with this result. When you are UND, you'll know that you really are. It'll happen, I'm sure of it!! Hang in there! Your day is coming. Good luck...

Tig



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Caryn


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I sure was hoping to see UND. My 3 week VL test was 40. 240 at week 1 and 40 at week 3. I hope this is not a repeat of last time! UGHHH!



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1a, CT. Incivek triple 1/2013, vl 810 @ 2 weeks, 610 @ 4 weeks, 3000 @ 8 weeks, tx stopped. 

4/2014 - tx with Sovaldi/Olysio/Riba. VL 39 mil. - VL 230 @ 1 week, VL 40 @ 3 weeks, 5 weeks UND, EOT - UND, EOT @ 4 weeks UND, EOT @ 12 weeks UND!
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