Can Steroids/Antibiotics cause false positive HSV2?

[stone64]

I had a Steroid injection and C-Pack as well as antibiotic prescription for bronchitis.
A week later I had blood work done and was positive (over 5) for HSV-2.

Is it possible that the steroids and/or antibodies caused a false positive?

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

It was most likely a Z pack, not a c pack :)

No, steroids and antibiotics will not cause a false positive hsv2 igg result. Your result is over the false positive range and most likely accurate.

If you haven't already, be sure to watch the patient counseling video and read the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com for terrific ( and free ) info on genital herpes.

grace

[stone64]

Thanks, a couple of follow up questions.

1) does the reading of >5 give any possible indication of how long I've had it?

2) my fiance takes Valtrex for fever blisters, is there any chance it got into my bloodstream thus causing a false positive reading?

[gracefromHHP]

valtrex will not affect blood test results. If your fiance has hsv1 and had transmitted it to you, you'd test + for hsv1, not hsv2.  Your fiance will need tested for hsv2 to see what her status is too.

All a >5 shows is that you are + and well above the potential false positive cut off range. You could've been infected for 3 months, 1 year, 4 years etc.

grace