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Does suppressive Acyclovir affect blood test for HSV2? (Genital herpes)
Hi Grace
About 4 months ago, i decided to go for a comprehensive STD test. The results were all negative, EXCEPT for HSV2 - genital herpes. (I tested 1.3).
It was bewildering as prior to that, I had no significant lesions or visible symptoms that I could recall.
But at the same time, I was worried about transmission to my partner, so the doctor recommended daily Acyclovir as a suppressive - 400mg twice daily. So since then, i've been taking Acyclovir for the past 4 months.
Just 2 weeks ago, I went to another doctor, a gynae this time for a small vaginal abcess. He decided to take my blood for STD tests, including Herpes (both types). The results for HSV2 antibodies came back NEGATIVE (0.3).
Now my question is... Do I have genital herpes or not?? Or was the 2nd negative result due to the suppressive Acyclovir I've been taking for the past 4 months? How can I really be sure whether or not I have the virus?
About 4 months ago, i decided to go for a comprehensive STD test. The results were all negative, EXCEPT for HSV2 - genital herpes. (I tested 1.3).
It was bewildering as prior to that, I had no significant lesions or visible symptoms that I could recall.
But at the same time, I was worried about transmission to my partner, so the doctor recommended daily Acyclovir as a suppressive - 400mg twice daily. So since then, i've been taking Acyclovir for the past 4 months.
Just 2 weeks ago, I went to another doctor, a gynae this time for a small vaginal abcess. He decided to take my blood for STD tests, including Herpes (both types). The results for HSV2 antibodies came back NEGATIVE (0.3).
Now my question is... Do I have genital herpes or not?? Or was the 2nd negative result due to the suppressive Acyclovir I've been taking for the past 4 months? How can I really be sure whether or not I have the virus?
you should also encourage your provider to read up on the false positive issues so that they start confirmatory testing on all results under 5 without a history of obvious symptoms.
Thanks guys, yes it seems like the most logical thing to do would be to stop the Acyclovir and have a retest in 4 weeks, just to be sure.
I'd stop the acyclovir at this point and retest.
did your partner seek out type specific herpes igg blood testing too?
grace
did your partner seek out type specific herpes igg blood testing too?
grace
Unless taken in the first week of infection, antivirals will generally not delay production of antibodies or reduce antibody levels to a negative reading in a blood test.
In your case, provided both tests were definitely IgG, then you had a false positive at 1.3. There was a 70% chance that without symptoms this was a false positive in the first place.
It is almost certain you do not have a HSV2 infection. For the most complete confirmation you could cease antivirals for 16 weeks and have a Westernblot test, but I really feel this isn't required.
In your case, provided both tests were definitely IgG, then you had a false positive at 1.3. There was a 70% chance that without symptoms this was a false positive in the first place.
It is almost certain you do not have a HSV2 infection. For the most complete confirmation you could cease antivirals for 16 weeks and have a Westernblot test, but I really feel this isn't required.
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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.
