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Equivocal Result for HSV2 - active for 7 months with infected partner
My husband and I are in a non monogamous, open relationship. We were involved with a girl who was diagnosed in 2011 with HSV2. She takes medicine daily and says she has only ever had one breakout which was how she discovered the virus in 2011. My husband has had unprotected sex with her several times over the past 7 months. I was involved in oral sex with her on several occasions, also. My last sexual encounter with her was two months ago, his was three weeks prior to our sti testing last week. We are no longer involved with her and so will have no further sexual contact with her. Neither of us have experienced any symptoms of HSV2. Our first exposure was 7 months ago and our last 4 weeks ago.
We were tested at LabCorp, the HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec test. Both of our results were <0.91 with the reference range being 0.00-0.90 so the <0.91 put us just barely into the equivocal range (which is 0.91-1.09)
We both tested positive for the HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec test - mine was 10.70 and his was greater than 62 with the same reference range for this test as for the HSV2 test. Not sure if that result will matter, but just in case it might, I wanted to add it.
We are curious what this actually means. We do not have insurance and do not have primary care physicians to ask, so I am hoping we can find some answers here.
1. Should we re-test and if so, how long should we wait?
2. Because it is so close to the negative and we have been active with her for so long, is it possible that we are actually negative or will the antibodies continue to form so that the number would be higher on a test a few weeks down the road?
3. I have a new partner that I need to share this information with so I am trying to be as accurate as possible. I don't want to scare him but I don't want to underplay the possible negatives either. Any advice on how the two of us should proceed with regards to oral sex and vaginal sex would be greatly appreciated. He was tested last week as well and tested positive for HSV1 but negative for HSV2. I don't know his numbers, but I will be asking him when we talk.
Thank you in advance for any (preferably lifestyle non-judgemental) advice on this matter.
We were tested at LabCorp, the HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec test. Both of our results were <0.91 with the reference range being 0.00-0.90 so the <0.91 put us just barely into the equivocal range (which is 0.91-1.09)
We both tested positive for the HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec test - mine was 10.70 and his was greater than 62 with the same reference range for this test as for the HSV2 test. Not sure if that result will matter, but just in case it might, I wanted to add it.
We are curious what this actually means. We do not have insurance and do not have primary care physicians to ask, so I am hoping we can find some answers here.
1. Should we re-test and if so, how long should we wait?
2. Because it is so close to the negative and we have been active with her for so long, is it possible that we are actually negative or will the antibodies continue to form so that the number would be higher on a test a few weeks down the road?
3. I have a new partner that I need to share this information with so I am trying to be as accurate as possible. I don't want to scare him but I don't want to underplay the possible negatives either. Any advice on how the two of us should proceed with regards to oral sex and vaginal sex would be greatly appreciated. He was tested last week as well and tested positive for HSV1 but negative for HSV2. I don't know his numbers, but I will be asking him when we talk.
Thank you in advance for any (preferably lifestyle non-judgemental) advice on this matter.
and Life360 thank you both for taking time to read about my situation and share the information you have.
I am breathing much easier having been tested and coming out negative. It was a pretty stressful couple of weeks. We do intend to only engage with partners in the future who have test results that they are willing to share with us and my husband and I have agreed that will not engage in further unprotected sex with future partners either.
I am breathing much easier having been tested and coming out negative. It was a pretty stressful couple of weeks. We do intend to only engage with partners in the future who have test results that they are willing to share with us and my husband and I have agreed that will not engage in further unprotected sex with future partners either.
Hi, DGG. Life360 invited me to comment.
Your lifestyle places you and your husband at high risk of acquiring HSV2 someday. But it hasn't happened yet.
Life360 is correct that your HSV2 blood test results are clearly negative. The information you see on lab results is written primarily for lab scientists and clinicians, not patients, hence uses terminology and notations that some nonscientists may not recognize, in this case < for "less than".
In the presence of asymptomatic genital herpes due to HSV2, the average transmission risk by unproteced vaginal sex is around 1 in 1,000 for each exposure. It's lower than that in this case, since the infected woman is taking suppressive treatment.
1) No retesting is necessary at this time. However, as implied above, you and/or your husband could well acquire HSV2 from the current partner or a future one, unless you have all potential partners be tested for HSV before including them in your sexual activity circle. (Without testing, you can assume that 10-50% of them will have HSV2, depending on age, race, and other factors.) I would advise any couple in your and your husband's lifestyle to have regular testing (e.g. once a year) for all treatable and/or serious STDs, i.e. gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and HSV. You also should be immunized against HPV and hepatitis B, if not done already.
2) See above. Any number below 0.90 or lower is conclusively negative, which is why your lab doesn't seel a need to give the actual figure.
3) You needn't say anything about HSV to your new partner. You don't have HSV2 and he is not at risk for HSV1, because the immune system prevents new infections with the type someone already has.
I hope that helps. Best wishes and stay safe (relatively speaking).
Your lifestyle places you and your husband at high risk of acquiring HSV2 someday. But it hasn't happened yet.
Life360 is correct that your HSV2 blood test results are clearly negative. The information you see on lab results is written primarily for lab scientists and clinicians, not patients, hence uses terminology and notations that some nonscientists may not recognize, in this case < for "less than".
In the presence of asymptomatic genital herpes due to HSV2, the average transmission risk by unproteced vaginal sex is around 1 in 1,000 for each exposure. It's lower than that in this case, since the infected woman is taking suppressive treatment.
1) No retesting is necessary at this time. However, as implied above, you and/or your husband could well acquire HSV2 from the current partner or a future one, unless you have all potential partners be tested for HSV before including them in your sexual activity circle. (Without testing, you can assume that 10-50% of them will have HSV2, depending on age, race, and other factors.) I would advise any couple in your and your husband's lifestyle to have regular testing (e.g. once a year) for all treatable and/or serious STDs, i.e. gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and HSV. You also should be immunized against HPV and hepatitis B, if not done already.
2) See above. Any number below 0.90 or lower is conclusively negative, which is why your lab doesn't seel a need to give the actual figure.
3) You needn't say anything about HSV to your new partner. You don't have HSV2 and he is not at risk for HSV1, because the immune system prevents new infections with the type someone already has.
I hope that helps. Best wishes and stay safe (relatively speaking).
Hi, firstly your value means less than .91. The< symbol means less than so that would take you out of the equivical. You can retest now is your concerned or call you lab about the less than symbol.
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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.
