Contradictory test results on different labs.

Hi, i`ve been reading the forums and im having so many doubts about my test results, in the meantime im making the labs rich cause of my paranoia.

I have a regular screening last year on october, everything was negative. This was an IFA test.

My last sexual encounter was on January, 3 months ago. After a week the girl said she had some rush that dissapeared after some days so i was nervous that she had herpes or that i could be infected.

After a month i took a test and it was all negative. This also was an IFA test.

I was reading the forums and learning that to be really sure you have to wait 14 to 16 weeks, but the paranoia was big so after a month (two months from the last encounter) i took two test on two different labs.

The first lab was an IFA test, it became positive on both HSV-1 and 2. The second lab was negative on both and it was an ELISA test.

I talked to the first lab and they retook the test after a week, and it became again positive for the HSV-1 (with half the values of the first test but still in the positive range) and equivocal for HSV2.

I went to two dermatologist, both said it was probably negative for the virus, since i have no symptoms.

This week was 3 months of my last encounter, so i took again the test on the same two labs. The first lab again was an IFA test, and just the HSV1 was positive. HSV was negative. On the second lab it was an ELISA test (the test sensitivity says 99% for HSV1 and 92% for HSV2) and it was negative on both. Although compared to the last month ELISA test, the values for HSV1 were a little bit higher this time (5.6 vs. 4.4 of a lower than 9 scale for negative).

I called both labs and told them the contradictory results. On the lab with positive results they retook the test. On the lab of my negative results the Dr. told me that ELISA was fully automatic and the false-positive or false-positive were much lower than IFA test, and that IFA tests were dependent on human observation and more prone to human errors, that i should be certain i was negative.

So, Im now more confused than ever, my life emotional and sexual life are halted, i  was always practicing safe with condoms and i know condoms are only 50% effective preventing herpes transmission.

So, do you have any data on IFA vs. ELISA accuracy? According to the tests now there is a small possibility of having HSV1.

Awaiting for your replies, thanks for your collaboration.

[gracefromHHP]

actually condoms are only 30% effective in reducing transmission of genital herpes.

really no reason to doubt your continued negative hsv2 igg's.

odds are you really do have hsv1 as most adults do but if you really need the peace of mind, a herpes WB blood test in another month would be the next step.  

grace

[kerana]

Thank you Grace, but currently i have no access to a facility with WesterBlot tests.

[gracefromHHP]

if you are in the US, all quest labs offer the WB. You also can order it sent to your house and have your local lab draw it and send it for you ( with a doctor's order to do so ).

[kerana]

Thanks Grace, do you have any data on the IFA vs. ELISA accuracy? I´ve read on the CDC Guidelines testing recommendations and IFA testing is not even mentioned.

[gracefromHHP]

correct, ifa isn't the best choice at all for herpes blood testing. not many places even offer it any more.

[kerana]

Thanks grace!