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STDs (Expert Forum)
interpreting herpes IgG
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
interpreting herpes IgG
by kyje, May 19, 2007 12:00AM
I recently went in for an annual exam and requested blood work to test for STD's. I told my NP not to worry about testing for Herpes 1, since I have had fever blisters (oral) in the past. I did request a test for Herpes 2, and am growing increasingly confused over the results. The results are as follows:
Herpes II, IgG "out of range" are 2.7 H
Reference Range is <0.91
Negative Specimens.... <0.91
Positive Speciments....>1.10
Equivocal Specimens....0.91-1.09
What does this mean exactly? My Nurse Practioner told me that I tested positive for genital herpes. However, after reviewing this site, it seems like this could be a false postitive since 1)my numbers are relatively low and 2) because I have Type I (and results can be "cross reactive"??!?. (As an aside, I have never noticed Herpes in the genital region, although I realize many people do not experience noticable outbreaks.) If I am interpreting previous posts on this site correctly, it seems I have roughly a 50/50 chance of the test being a false positive.
Should I follow up with an additional test? I am looking for any insight into how to interpret the results, and a suggested course of action would be much appreciated!
Herpes II, IgG "out of range" are 2.7 H
Reference Range is <0.91
Negative Specimens.... <0.91
Positive Speciments....>1.10
Equivocal Specimens....0.91-1.09
What does this mean exactly? My Nurse Practioner told me that I tested positive for genital herpes. However, after reviewing this site, it seems like this could be a false postitive since 1)my numbers are relatively low and 2) because I have Type I (and results can be "cross reactive"??!?. (As an aside, I have never noticed Herpes in the genital region, although I realize many people do not experience noticable outbreaks.) If I am interpreting previous posts on this site correctly, it seems I have roughly a 50/50 chance of the test being a false positive.
Should I follow up with an additional test? I am looking for any insight into how to interpret the results, and a suggested course of action would be much appreciated!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 19, 2007 12:00AM
, May 19, 2007 12:00AM
I'm confused by the words 'out of range', but presumably that particular laboratory uses that phrase to mean the result is abnormal. A result <0.91 means no HSV-2 antibody is present, >1.09 means antibody is present, and 0.91 - 1.09 is equivocal, i.e. it is uncertain.
In other words, your result is positive. However, you are right that some results that are technically positive, but under 3.5, are falsely positive. That is more likely if someone also is positive for HSV-1 antibody, so if you indeed have been infected with HSV-1, your 50:50 estimate is about right. You can sort this out by repeat testing with a different HSV blood test. For example, your provider could do the BiokitUSA test; if positive, you definitely have HSV-2, and if negative you probably don't. Or ask for a Western blot test, which can be done by the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle. That's the gold standard to know for sure.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
In other words, your result is positive. However, you are right that some results that are technically positive, but under 3.5, are falsely positive. That is more likely if someone also is positive for HSV-1 antibody, so if you indeed have been infected with HSV-1, your 50:50 estimate is about right. You can sort this out by repeat testing with a different HSV blood test. For example, your provider could do the BiokitUSA test; if positive, you definitely have HSV-2, and if negative you probably don't. Or ask for a Western blot test, which can be done by the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle. That's the gold standard to know for sure.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Time for a follow-up regardless! Thanks!
The other way around, monkeyflower. If HSV-2 result is UNDER 3.5, it can be false positive if someone also has HSV-1. (I think you know this--probably just a typo. But I didn't want others to be misled.)
Herpes I IgG: 1.7
Herpes II IgG: 0.00
Herpes IgM: .65
What does the results actually means? Do it shows if it was a recent infection or past infection?
It has been a few days and sincerely very depressed and my life is changing very fast. Another test is scheduled in a month.
I have read a lot of stuff in these days about this but still feel very confused.
I will greatly appreciate all the comments to help me understand them.
Component Value Flag Low High Unit
HSV 2 IGG, EIA 1.67 H <0.90 index
HSV Type II - Specific Ab, IgG 6.5 High
Negative <0.9
Equivocal 0.9 - 1.0
Positive > or =1.1
The result reads that 'equivocal may suggest early infection'. However, I'm being told that when the reading is this high (6.5), that's an indication of recent infection (which they're definining to be <4 months). They say that over time the reading on igG would fall to <3.5, and the higher the reading, the more recent the initial exposure. Do you agree that a result of 6.5 indicates a recent initial infection? And if so and with a reading of 6.5, how recent would you estimate the first infection to have occurred? Mainly I'm trying to understand what a 'high' reading of 6.5 can mean, especially in terms of timeframes from infection.
Thanks so much.