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Could a swap culture be a false positive ?

I haven't been active for almost a year and six months ... I had some discomfort so I look and I seen a lesion in my on the left side on my perineum. So I went to the er and I had an exam and they ran some test and they came back saying I had bv. I ask him what was the lesion and he said it was not herpes that he was ruling that out . But to follow up with my ob-gyn so I did just that she did an exam took a look at the lesion and said it was herpes it looked like I was having a  reoccurring  symptoms. I like her know that I get cold sores on my lip and she said that would most likely my blood test would come back positive for hav-1. She took a culture and sent me to the lab for other test. Well I got my results back and my blood test came back hsv-1 positive hsv-2 negative. So I already knew that cause I get them on my lips. But here is where I'm confused my culture came back saying hsv-1 not detected and hsv-2 detected. I don't understand I haven't been active in 18 months. So how could this be ? Wouldn't it show in my blood if already had it and if is a new infection where did I catch it from cause I haven't been active no oral or  intercourse. I'm so confused
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Well my doctor called me today and said she has now sent out for a igm test but from what I been seeing it says those test are not reliable ...
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Yes. Don't do any igm testing. No herpes or std expert recommends this test. Even the cdc says this test is not recommended and unreliable. Unfortunately most Dr's are not up to speed on herpes knowledge or testing. Yours seems particularly clueless. Why would you run an igm test when that's  the early detection test and you haven't been active in over a year. If you want to do a blood test then look into the western blot.
15249123 tn?1478652475
Swab tests are accurate when they are positive. They look for the virus. Igg blood tests look for antibodies and although it's not common, some folks don't make antibodies. The igg hsv2 test can miss up to 5% of infections as well. Now, your body made the hsv1 antibodies and I would think should build hsv2 antibodies as well. I agree with you that this can be very frustrating and finding answers in a case like this can be tricky. The only way the lab swab was incorrect was if there was a mix up at the lab.
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I'm staring to think there was a lab mix up cause when I was leaving I ask is anybody going to label my test which was my culture which she left on top of the bio can. The nurse siting by the desk was like somebody will get it and label it. I left feeling uncomfortable about it not being label. So I went to on to the lab to do the rest of my test. After that I walk back cause I wanted to ask the doctor a question and I walked back into the room I was in and it was still there on top of the bio red can. Then they told me to wait for the doctor in the waiting room as I was walking out a new patient was going into the room. I don't know what to think anymore nither do the doctors
If you develop another lesion then get it swabbed. I know this sounds like a lousy plan but that's about all you can do.
You also can research the western blot hsv test from the University of Washington. This is the gold standard in hsv blood testing. Call them and they will send you the kit. Your Dr can draw the blood and send it back.
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