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1.14 positive reading from quest..for hsv 2..can it be false?

Hello.  I recently had a full std panel and my doctor called me saying I was positive for exposure to hsv 2. I have had no blisters or symptoms.  I called and asked about the western blot and my gyn said that is only for hiv and I am def positive.  Can someone tell me how I can obtain this test?  Thanks!
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Avatar universal
Wow...im glad the other doctor you went to see's the real deal!  I really hope they write her a letter...hopefully you are the patient that changes things for that office.. it is really unfortunate that there are some people taking medication who have no clue about confirmatory testing
I feel the news should be doing something about this.. they always do a segment on ' health alerts' about different things...i know its hard for people to talk about it ..but people shouldnt be taking unnecessary meds just bc our doctors are so naive!!


keep us posted if anything happens!
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101028 tn?1419603004
it is grounds for a malpractice suit if you want to pursue it.  I'd advise talking to a malpractice lawyer if it's something you want to pursue.  

I too am glad you sought out additional info - it's what we are here for :)
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Avatar universal
Hi Grace.  I went and had a Biokit done and the doctor there was so furious w/my ob/gyn not accepting my Western Blot results they are writing her a letter and including the 2010 CDC guidelines as well.  I told the doctor in Ny how my doctor said the Western Blot was just for HIV and they were disgusted.  I did ask for the Biokit...and They did not want to give it to me b/c I had the western blot done but I drove to NY to have it done so they did.  It did come back negative and the doctor there said there is some reason that we met today...she said unfortunately I am the patient that may have to change how my doctor's office practices and diagnosis  stds and  testing.  They were so angry w/my doctor and said we normally don't do this but we are writing her a letter.  Is there room for malpractice here?  Should I just drop the doctor get my chart  and let the whole thing go?  Do I take legal action?  I can't help but wonder how many patients are on medication they do not need..it scares me.  Your knowledge is great and I am so glad I got to talk to you in this forum.  If I never went online to research who knows I would have been taking another prescription on top of what I already take.  Thanks again for everything!
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101028 tn?1419603004
the accuracy of the herpes WB has been well documented for over 25 years now. she really does need to update her herpes testing knowledge instead of making defensive, uneducated comments like she has been. It's not fda approved because they've just never went for it - it's still considered the gold standard of herpes blood testing. ( it' s not fda approved in any state as a fyi - each state has different rules about how easy it is to get non-fda tests done - we Quakers in PA have to control everything you know....he he he ).   the herpeselect folks have been very open about the false positive issues for over 8 years now I think it's been since the info was presented at the cdc std conference that year. they've worked hard to tweak their test and made improvements on it so there are less false positives for the last 4 years and are still sponsoring active research into making it even more accurate.  None of the other herpes igg blood tests are so open and doing so much research even though some of them have a much higher false positive rate!  Every single test your provider EVER orders for you has false negative and false positive issues.  I think all of us know at least1 friend or family member who has had to under go additional work ups due to inaccurate test results - be it repeating a pap test because it came back + or being told they had an abnormal mammogram, been told they might have cancer or told that their baby might have a birth defect etc.  There are grey areas for every test and that's part of why we have specialists - they typically are more aware of the limitations of the testing for their specialty to help patients get the further work ups they need.  

I'm just glad that you sought out additional info, got the correct info, got the correct testing and got better answers :)     Hopefully your former gyn seeks out additional education about the testing to better educate herself to help her patients better from this point forward.

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Avatar universal

Im glad you showed her. I don't understand why she is so naive around additional testing.  The Western Blot not only tests for herpes but others too. Grace I think in your one post to me you did mention Western Blot is not FDA approved in some states including PA, which is why it can be so hard to obtain - I should actually go back real quick and read what you posted again.  Anyhow, if it is FDA approved in other states then what is the difference- if you rsem were in a office with your doctor in another state would it make that much of a difference to her or help her believe in it a little more. Also, their doing STUDIES on this- i think if doing additional testing wasnt worth the while...then why the heck are they wasting time doing a study on it using the Western Blot. Just saying.
Idk I guess it just makes me a little mad that some doctors are naive around things such as confirming a health status.

Anyway, I think you have the right idea of just moving on and finding a new doctor!
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Avatar universal
Hi Grace.  Well I got to talk to my doctor yesterday and she reviewed the Western Blot results.  On the bottom of the results it talks about how the Western Blot is not FDA approved so she refuses to accept that I am negative.  I reviewed w/her the 2010 CDC std testing guidelines, focus technologies even talking about retesting patients w/low positives : http://www.focusdx.com/focus/packageInsert/EL0920G.pdf.  She said maybe she is "naive" in additional testing but as far as she is concerned and the labs from quest show I am positive lol.  Needless to say I am moving on and I will be getting another doctor.  my primary doctor had no problem w/the western blot results and was happy I was able to obtain them.  Thanks again :)
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Avatar universal
I called the cdc today and was refered to call the fda to complain about focus technologies herpselect test used by Quest.  I plan to go back to the ob/ gyn group office next week with the cdc 2010 testing guidelines, my original test results, western blot results as well to show the office managers and 2 doctors naive of false positive results and further testing.  Focus technologies pdf on testing notes low postives and the need to test if the patient has no symptoms.  What concerns me the most is how many other patients are taking medication they do not really need?  I have learned a great deal from you and once again I thank you for everything!  :)
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101028 tn?1419603004
no reason for more testing at all for herpes. it's time to move past it at this point :)  

hopefully your obgyn better educates themselves on the low positive issues and the need to confirm them with additional testing.

did you write a letter of complaint to the clinic manager there?  include the information from the 2010 cdc herpes testing guidelines in it too!
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Avatar universal
To be in safe try to have biokit too ?
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Avatar universal
Hi Grace I have one last question.  My last time w/my partner was 10/17/10. My blood drawn by my doctor(my ob/gyn) w/the low positive was 1/28/11 and than the blood I had drawn for the Western Blot was on 2/20/11.  Do you think that the Western Blot should be concrete evidence enough that I am definitely negative or do you think I should perhaps still get a biokit done as well?  I think I am in disbelief after the last few weeks and do not know if I should just go on w/my life or just get another test to double confirm.  I am so upset that my ob/gyn was ready to get me on meds(I asked her do people ever retest w/low positives and she told me no) and I had to go to my primary to order the Western Blot.   Thanks for your help.
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101028 tn?1419603004
congrats!
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Avatar universal
Western blot negative for hsv 1 and 2!!!!   Thank you grace for all your help.  I got the call today finally and had my Dr fax me the results because I didn't believe her over the phone.  I can not express my gratitude enough for all the questions you have answered.  Thank you for helping me and everyone in this forum.  
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101028 tn?1419603004
you'll have to ask your doctor what they can help you with with this . every clinic is different.
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Avatar universal
Hello Grace.  I came home today and I finally received the Western blot kit from the university of Washington.  My problem is Quest Labs in NJ have no idea about the test number 34534 or the cpt code 86694 which I found on-line at their website.  I can not find a lab to perform the blood draw and spin it down to ship it.  Quest was very rude to me over and over saying they would not just give a patient a sample.  Can my doctor request the draw and sent back to her so I can than in turn send it to the university of Washington?  I have no idea on where to go from here.  Can a regular doctor centrifuge a blood draw and send it using a sst red top tube?
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Avatar universal
Thank you.  I wish there were more informed people like you in doctors offices.  When I gave my Dr all the paper work from u of Washington she was surprised.  I am grateful to you for all your knowledge.  Thank you I will keep going to get a def answer.  
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101028 tn?1419603004
yes you should still pursue it.
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Avatar universal
Hi Grace I went to my doctor today with all the information from u of Washington about the western blot.  I called my ex he was tested he came back positive for hsv 2 as well.  I have no idea what his numbers are.  My question is this..if my hsv 1 was normal and my hsv 2 was 1.14 and my ex is positive should I still pursue the western blot?  Is it worth testing again because my doctor is convinced I am def positive.
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101028 tn?1419603004
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  is an ongoing post we have going with information about the low positives. You waited more than long enough to test so you can get the WB done to confirm your status.  If your local quest lab wasn't able to find the herpes WB blood test when they looked, it's a send out for them so they have to do a little digging to find the info as to how to send it out.  

no reason to start medication. it's not likely you really do have hsv2 and your provider needs to get some updated herpes testing education done for the benefit of their patients!

grace
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your quick response.  I requested a full std test to be done during my annual exam with my gyn ( I was just doing a routine test to be on the safe side b/c I have diabetes as well and want to make sure I am healthy).  The last time I had sex prior to the test was the middle of October w/my ex fiance.  He told me he was clean and had been tested before entering a law enforcement academy.  What concerns me is how my doctor called me and said it is definitely positive and that I should come in for an appointment to see her and learn my options.  I have an appointment next Monday to see my doctor but they are already discussing taking  medication rather than any further testing.   I called quest to inquire about the test and they said it does not test for herpes.  I will take your advice and have copied the codes.  On my lab report anything greater than .89 is considered  positive by quest labs.  Thank you for your help and time in answering my question.  I am very highly depressed and stunned to say the least and feel so hopeless.
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101028 tn?1419603004
your hsv2 igg is a very low positive and isn't likely to be a true positive. Your provider needs to read through the 2010 cdc herpes testing guidelines to update their knowledge on herpes test results and the low positives.  

The western blot is just a type of test - they do it for all sorts of infections, not just hiv. The WB for herpes is only done at the U of washington here in the US. If your provider uses quest labs, it's test #34534.

when was the last time you had sex prior to your testing?  was there any particular reason for your testing or just a routine std screening?

grace
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