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My referral also listed Hep C. The big question to ask, since I have already spoken to the IA doctor, is to find out if the child tested positive for Hep C, or for the anti-bodies for Hep C.The anti-bodies for Hep C can pass through the placenta from mother to child. The anti-bodies stay with the child, and show up on tests, until around 18 months. So just because the child tests positive for the anti-bodies does not mean they have the disease.
However, and this is the tough part of the referral, there is no way to tell if the anti-bodies are from the mother, or are actually being produced by the child because they are Hep C positive.
Ask for a Hep C test, NOT a PCR test for Hep C. One will show if the virus is present in the child, the other will show the anti-bodies. You are most interested in the virus.
Fortunately, also included in my referral was information stating that the Hep C test came back negative. The baby boy referred to me does not have Hep C, just the anti-bodies from his mother.
I do not profess to be any sort of expert on this issue. I spoke to my IA doctor on Wednesday, so this stuff is pretty fresh in my mind still. I hope this helps, and if any of this information is incorrect, I'm sure another pster will be able to correct it.
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