Anti HCV positive but RNA negative...

I have a job offer from Bahrain, currently I am working in India. I know my medical condition so I m asking in advance.

Short answer, no.

Long answer, you don't get to decide what tests you can do. 

These are determined by the Ministry of Health guidelines.  They are testing for stuff like Hepatitis  and HIV and like all viral diseases, the infection is confirmed through antibody tests.  HCV RNA tests are only done to test to see if you have a chronic infection. The interest of GCC countries is only in preventing people with certain diseases from ever coming to their country and not in treating them (that is done only for citizens).  Hence this is why the tests are designed to check for infection - past or present doesn't matter for incurable diseases like Hep B/C & HIV. 

Furthermore, coming from India, you will need to go through GAMCA and they test for anti HCV. They will never pass you.

Practically, the only place in the GCC where you can potentially get a job with your condition is UAE and only if you don't go through GAMCA.  Forget about the rest.

Thank you 😊

Don’t think below comment is correct and suggest you go to GAMCA as positive anti HCV means you were infected with Hep C at some point of time but don’t carry Hep C disease which is proven by RNA negative test and there is not risk for your environment as you are immune against Hep B/C and continue vaccination. Check it out with GAMCA and medical center in Bahrain.

The comment is correct. I think you are mixing separate topics i.e.

1) Is he carrying Hep C disease?  The answer is NO. That is what you are saying as well and I agree
2) Will his antibody or anti HCV test come out as positive? The answer is YES
3) Will GAMCA pass him?  The answer is NO

See attached GAMCA testing guidelines.  Look on page 38 for list of diseases that make people unfit to work in GCC (categorized by test) - Anti HCV test is there and it is the ONLY test they do to screen for Hepatitis C (practically it is the only test they care about).  Then look at page 23 which shows the penalties that clinics face if they pass him and the case is detected here.

https://gcchmc.org/Images/RulesAndRegul … ov2016.pdf

4) Can he skip GAMCA and come to the GCC, give the medical here (Anti HCV only) and convert visit visa to work permit?  ONLY in UAE as that is the only GCC country that doesn't disqualify Hep C through Anti-HCV test.  Everyone else will do Anti-HCV and refuse work visa

ohb wrote:

there is not risk for your environment as you are immune against Hep B/C and continue vaccination

Incorrect, there is NO vaccination for Hepatitis C.  It is only for Hep B and that only works prior to infection. 

I hope that clarifies.  Personally, I agree that he is not a threat due to Hep C already being cleared by his body but the law is the law and that is what his question was - and I answered accordingly. We have had work visas cancelled and employees deported for this. Please don't give people false hope if you don't know the subject matter in detail.

I think what XTang is saying is absolutely correct. GAMCA centre will just follow the guidelines and nothing else they will listen. Most GAMCA centres in India are run by non medical persons, there will be no proper medical professional there even, just on the panel. Even if one will be there, they don't bother for an individual and their sole duty is to follow the guidelines, so it is practically not possible to get primary fitness from there in India, I know cases where TB was completely treated but its scars seen on Xrays without any evidence of active TB, are stamped unfit. Similar scenario is there is western world and Australia, but after your licensed practitioner states that the person is not a threat in terms of spreading infection, they can go for independent extensive health check and then give you the decision-again they are not forgiving for even the slightest doubt of it.
But even then I would ask Mr Shabeer to discuss it with your future employer.

Hi,

I would like to clarify that I was being ask by my doctor to take a Hepa A, B, and C test and the result was negative. Then someone from the ministry call me to have a blood test again without informing me that they will test me for HIV test. Don’t you think it violates my rights as an expat?

My friend, you are in the middle east.  This is the law of the land.  The only option that you have, if you feel your rights are being violated, is to leave..... Unfortunately.

@XTang lmra.gov.bh

https://lmra.gov.bh › cmsPDF

1.1. Pre-employment Examination General Role for Expatriates

Xtang i would like to reffer you to an update clarified my lmra bahrain that hcv test is done only for health care workers,

Is it ok now to go for other jobs????

Please reply me

Regards

@Mamoon Nazir https://lmra.gov.bh/files/cms/downloads … 112715.pdf

Link provided above was mistaken and this is the actual link

Thanks

I am not sure why you are confusing different things.  The tests done in Bahrain are as per the guidelines.  GAMCA does ALL tests.  If you are in Bahrain, proceed.  If you are outside and you have to go through GAMCA, come on a visit visa, do the tests here and convert the visa - as GAMCA will still not pass you irrespective of what LMRA says.   They routinely fail people for Hep B who are going to UAE even though Hep B is no longer an illness that they deport for (in most categories).

Yes i agree with you answer at all, i am on visit visa and soon will go for the medical test, so what you says, will they coduct the test following lmra guidlines as declared in the mentioned link above???

Whats your opinion on this

@Mamoon Nazir o still the gamca will be involved ???

@Mamoon Nazir o still the gamca will be involved ???