Aa
Confused About Herpes Test-Please Help!
I have only slept with one person, my boyfriend, for the past 16 months. Neither of us have ever had any signs of genital outbreaks before. My boyfriend has had oral/cold sores in the distant past.
About two weeks ago, I had a weird genital outbreak below my vaginal opening, on my perineum. I also had flu-like symptoms with a low-grade fever. I freaked out and went to my gyno. After seeing the outbreak, my gyno said he thought it was my first outbreak of HSV1, but on my genitals (which I would have received after oral sex with someone infection with HSV), because my outbreak was not "that bad." He took my blood for an antibody blood test and took a culture from the sore.
My blood test came back negative for all HSV antibodies. My doctor said that could also indicative of an initial outbreak/recent exposure since my body has not yet built up antibodies. My culture came back positive for HSV2.
My boyfriend then got a full STD blood panel (I think IGG). The only thing he was positive for was HSV1 and it read "high." He was negative for HSV2.
My gyno said he is 99% sure that was my first outbreak, so we are both very confused. I have not had any recent sexual contact with anyone other than my boyfriend. I have never had any sort of symptoms for herpes before (neither oral or genital). I was almost positive I got it from my boyfriend. However, his blood test was negative for HSV2.
Is it possible he could have HSV2, but his blood test was wrong?
Is it possible I could have had HSV2 for years, and never had a symptom or outbreak until now? If so, why did my blood test negative for all HSV antibodies?
Is it possible that my culture tested positive for HSV2, but I really had a genital outbreak of HSV1? (That seems more plausible, if that's even possible.)
My gyno said I could have been exposed through surface contact, but I haven't been to a tanning bed, a pool, a spa, or anything similar, in a long time.
My gyno also suggested my boyfriend and I get retested in 4-6 weeks. (It has been about 2 weeks since my outbreak.) What tests should we get?
PLEASE HELP! I am SO confused!!!
About two weeks ago, I had a weird genital outbreak below my vaginal opening, on my perineum. I also had flu-like symptoms with a low-grade fever. I freaked out and went to my gyno. After seeing the outbreak, my gyno said he thought it was my first outbreak of HSV1, but on my genitals (which I would have received after oral sex with someone infection with HSV), because my outbreak was not "that bad." He took my blood for an antibody blood test and took a culture from the sore.
My blood test came back negative for all HSV antibodies. My doctor said that could also indicative of an initial outbreak/recent exposure since my body has not yet built up antibodies. My culture came back positive for HSV2.
My boyfriend then got a full STD blood panel (I think IGG). The only thing he was positive for was HSV1 and it read "high." He was negative for HSV2.
My gyno said he is 99% sure that was my first outbreak, so we are both very confused. I have not had any recent sexual contact with anyone other than my boyfriend. I have never had any sort of symptoms for herpes before (neither oral or genital). I was almost positive I got it from my boyfriend. However, his blood test was negative for HSV2.
Is it possible he could have HSV2, but his blood test was wrong?
Is it possible I could have had HSV2 for years, and never had a symptom or outbreak until now? If so, why did my blood test negative for all HSV antibodies?
Is it possible that my culture tested positive for HSV2, but I really had a genital outbreak of HSV1? (That seems more plausible, if that's even possible.)
My gyno said I could have been exposed through surface contact, but I haven't been to a tanning bed, a pool, a spa, or anything similar, in a long time.
My gyno also suggested my boyfriend and I get retested in 4-6 weeks. (It has been about 2 weeks since my outbreak.) What tests should we get?
PLEASE HELP! I am SO confused!!!
Best Answer
UPDATE:
Since this was such a mystery to me, and was really bothering me, if anyone else ever comes across this situation, maybe this will help.
As a recap, I had a herpes outbreak with all the signs that it was a first outbreak. I had slept with only one person in the past year 1/2. My initial blood test was negative for both HSV 1 and 2. However, the doctor said that wasn't uncommon, because the antibodies hadn't had time to develop yet. A culture was sent off. In the meantime, my boyfriend got his blood tested and he was only positive for HSV1, which he knew he had. My future came back positive for HSV2. We were VERY confused, as he had been my only partner in a while.
I got my blood tested again about a few weeks ago (about seven months post infection). I was positive for HSV1 ONLY. I was negative for HSV2. THE CULTURE TEST WAS WRONG. I didn't have HSV1 before the outbreak, so it makes sense that I got HSV1 through oral sex.
Also, I would rarely take the antiviral meds. I haven't had one single outbreak (aside from the initial one) since. My doctor agrees the culture test was wrong.
Get second opinions, people!!! Culture tests aren't always right. If the tests don't match up, get retested. I spent seven months in turmoil for no reason. HSV1 isn't a big deal. Like I said, I haven't had an outbreak since. A LOT of people have HSV1.
SIGH. Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there.
Thanks for everyone's input! Good luck to all of those dealing with HSV2 outbreaks. I thought I had it, and so I know how you feel. Try to stay positive!
Since this was such a mystery to me, and was really bothering me, if anyone else ever comes across this situation, maybe this will help.
As a recap, I had a herpes outbreak with all the signs that it was a first outbreak. I had slept with only one person in the past year 1/2. My initial blood test was negative for both HSV 1 and 2. However, the doctor said that wasn't uncommon, because the antibodies hadn't had time to develop yet. A culture was sent off. In the meantime, my boyfriend got his blood tested and he was only positive for HSV1, which he knew he had. My future came back positive for HSV2. We were VERY confused, as he had been my only partner in a while.
I got my blood tested again about a few weeks ago (about seven months post infection). I was positive for HSV1 ONLY. I was negative for HSV2. THE CULTURE TEST WAS WRONG. I didn't have HSV1 before the outbreak, so it makes sense that I got HSV1 through oral sex.
Also, I would rarely take the antiviral meds. I haven't had one single outbreak (aside from the initial one) since. My doctor agrees the culture test was wrong.
Get second opinions, people!!! Culture tests aren't always right. If the tests don't match up, get retested. I spent seven months in turmoil for no reason. HSV1 isn't a big deal. Like I said, I haven't had an outbreak since. A LOT of people have HSV1.
SIGH. Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there.
Thanks for everyone's input! Good luck to all of those dealing with HSV2 outbreaks. I thought I had it, and so I know how you feel. Try to stay positive!
Sometimes these things just remain mysterious.The most likely path out of the mystery is for both you and your partner to have follow up HSV blood tests. If things are still uncertain them, a Western blot test should sort it out once and for all.
Wishes and happy new year.
Wishes and happy new year.
I read online that it could be possible for confusing HSV1 vs. HSV2 from culture swabs. They do some sort of color test or something, right? But, I don't think that's very common to mistake the two. I also read the state of your immune system could confuse the two types. Does anyone know anything about that??
I'm not sure if someone can test positive for HSV1, test positive for HSV2, but actually be positive for both on an IGG blood test.
I'm not sure if someone can test positive for HSV1, test positive for HSV2, but actually be positive for both on an IGG blood test.
Bigtimeworried55,
That is exactly why I am SO confused. I know people can be naive and people can lie and whatnot, but I know my guy very well and completely believe him when he says she is the only one. He didn't have to tell me about the other girl, but he did. He was actually incredibly concerned when I tested positive for HSV2, because he was starting to wonder if *I* had recently slept with someone else. He said I could be honest and he would still be with me, but he wanted to know. He had tears in his eyes when he asked me. I swore up and down he was the only one (and he is), and he eventually believed me. We don't keep things from each other, and that doesn't sound like someone who knows they slept with someone else. So...I'm pretty certain the last person he slept with was 6.5 months ago. Everything I've read online says it can take up to 3-6 months for antibodies to show, but I've never seen anything that says more than 6 months.
Everything (especially the no signs of antibodies on my blood test) points to this being my first outbreak with a recent infection.
Since it seems highly unlikely I was infected from random public contact, the only think I can think of is one of two things:
-My boyfriend's blood test is wrong and he has HSV2 as well.
OR
-My culture is wrong and I'm positive for HSV1 (because my boyfriend is and we had oral sex), not HSV2.
Are either of those possible??
He and I both had IGG blood tests. He got his done through Quest Diagnostics and he gave me his test results to fax to my doctor. My doctor looked over the results and said this is a big mystery.
Does anyone else have any input or ideas? This is all very strange...
That is exactly why I am SO confused. I know people can be naive and people can lie and whatnot, but I know my guy very well and completely believe him when he says she is the only one. He didn't have to tell me about the other girl, but he did. He was actually incredibly concerned when I tested positive for HSV2, because he was starting to wonder if *I* had recently slept with someone else. He said I could be honest and he would still be with me, but he wanted to know. He had tears in his eyes when he asked me. I swore up and down he was the only one (and he is), and he eventually believed me. We don't keep things from each other, and that doesn't sound like someone who knows they slept with someone else. So...I'm pretty certain the last person he slept with was 6.5 months ago. Everything I've read online says it can take up to 3-6 months for antibodies to show, but I've never seen anything that says more than 6 months.
Everything (especially the no signs of antibodies on my blood test) points to this being my first outbreak with a recent infection.
Since it seems highly unlikely I was infected from random public contact, the only think I can think of is one of two things:
-My boyfriend's blood test is wrong and he has HSV2 as well.
OR
-My culture is wrong and I'm positive for HSV1 (because my boyfriend is and we had oral sex), not HSV2.
Are either of those possible??
He and I both had IGG blood tests. He got his done through Quest Diagnostics and he gave me his test results to fax to my doctor. My doctor looked over the results and said this is a big mystery.
Does anyone else have any input or ideas? This is all very strange...
Thank you very much for your response! My boyfriend and I went on a "break." During that tme, he slept with one other girl (I'm female, I don't know why my profile says male) once, a little over six months before my outbreak. That is the only other person he has slept with, other than me, in over a year. I completely trust that is the truth.
Like I said, I have only slept with him in over a year. Like you said, it seems this was my first outbreak. I've never had any symptoms before, I had leg and back aches, low fever, headache, nausea, and the classic genital herpes outbreak sores. However, I'm incredibly confused as to how he could test negative for HSV2 if this is my first outbreak. Aside from the other woman about 6 1/2 months ago, we have only been with each other. He also has never shown any signs of HSV2. He has only shown signs of HSV1 on his mouth (and not when we've had sex).
I will take your advice. Thanks so much!
Like I said, I have only slept with him in over a year. Like you said, it seems this was my first outbreak. I've never had any symptoms before, I had leg and back aches, low fever, headache, nausea, and the classic genital herpes outbreak sores. However, I'm incredibly confused as to how he could test negative for HSV2 if this is my first outbreak. Aside from the other woman about 6 1/2 months ago, we have only been with each other. He also has never shown any signs of HSV2. He has only shown signs of HSV1 on his mouth (and not when we've had sex).
I will take your advice. Thanks so much!
I meant to add another reason I'm pretty sure this was an initial infection is your fever and flu like symptoms (by which you presumably mean headache, muscle aching, etc). Its apparent mildness doesn't mean much -- many initial herpes infections cause mild outbreaks. How severe your symptoms were has nothing to do with HSV1 versus HSV2. The symptoms and severity are identifcal with either virus.
First and most important, you probably have HSV2; a positive swab test (culture or PCR) from a lesion is rarely false. It is conceivable there was a lab error in distinguishing HSV1 versus HSV2, but unlikely -- although it would make sense to ask your doctor to ask the lab to confirm that report.
If it's HSV2, it is uncertain whether it was an initial infection or recurrent. In favor of initial is your lack of antibody, and lack of previous symptoms or outbreaks. In favor of a longstanding infection is that your partner apparently doesn't have HSV2 and you haven't otherwise been exposed recently.
However, another possibility: If your partner had other partners recently, and only recently caught HSV2 himself, that could explain his negative HSV2 blood test, since it takes a few weeks for antibody to develop.
So first ask your doc to double check with the lab about HSV1 vs HSV2 on your swab test. In addition, you should have a repeat blood test in a few weeks, and if still negative, another one at 3-4 months. If it becomes positive for either virus, it will tell your virus type. In addition, your partner should have follow-up blood tests on a similar schedule, to see if his HSV2 result turns positive. All blood tests should be the standard type-specific IgG antibody test. If things remain unclear after all that, then somewhere down the line both you and your partner could have Western blot tests. But for now I wouldn't go there.
I think that answers all your questions, except your comment about exposure "through surface contact". No way; your doctor is wrong. Genital HSV is acquired only by sexual contact.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes.
If it's HSV2, it is uncertain whether it was an initial infection or recurrent. In favor of initial is your lack of antibody, and lack of previous symptoms or outbreaks. In favor of a longstanding infection is that your partner apparently doesn't have HSV2 and you haven't otherwise been exposed recently.
However, another possibility: If your partner had other partners recently, and only recently caught HSV2 himself, that could explain his negative HSV2 blood test, since it takes a few weeks for antibody to develop.
So first ask your doc to double check with the lab about HSV1 vs HSV2 on your swab test. In addition, you should have a repeat blood test in a few weeks, and if still negative, another one at 3-4 months. If it becomes positive for either virus, it will tell your virus type. In addition, your partner should have follow-up blood tests on a similar schedule, to see if his HSV2 result turns positive. All blood tests should be the standard type-specific IgG antibody test. If things remain unclear after all that, then somewhere down the line both you and your partner could have Western blot tests. But for now I wouldn't go there.
I think that answers all your questions, except your comment about exposure "through surface contact". No way; your doctor is wrong. Genital HSV is acquired only by sexual contact.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
If what your saying is true regarding your boyfriend, 6 months is plenty of time for antibodies to build in your boyfriends blood to trigger a positive result when he tested. That's of course assuming 100% he last had sex with someone other than you 6 months ago.
A negative blood test but positive swab typically is a very good indicator for recent infection. Especially because HSV2 is "supposedly" very accurate on HSV blood tests.
It just doesn't add up. Swab is 100% accurate. Are you sure you both had IGG blood tests and NOT IGM blood tests? Can you verify the type of tests that were administered ?