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False Negative
Almost a year ago I had a genital outbreak, went to the obgyn and tested positive through a culture test for HPV-1. Although prescribed medicine to control it, I don't have insurance so didn't take anything besides a week long dose of antibiotics. After it cleared up, I never had another outbreak. I began to wonder whether I really had it and recently (about 9 months after the outbreak) went to a different clinic where a blood test was taken. The results of that herpes specific blood test was negative. Which test is trustworthy? Can a swab/culture test be false positive? Can a blood test be false negative? Since the only outbreak was 9 months ago my understanding is that I should have plenty of antibodies built up which would show up in a blood test. Help! I'm confused as to whether I actually have this virus?!
Thanks for the info and for the encouragement. I'm beginning to feel less hopeless and worried.
To lovemyhome:
I appreciate your sharing about your situation. I'm realizing more and more that the stigma placed on someone with herpes is ridiculous when so many people have it and don't even know.
To gracefrom HHP:
I see now that it would be an advantage to make sure that any new partner is tested so we know where we stand. Thanks for your help.
To lovemyhome:
I appreciate your sharing about your situation. I'm realizing more and more that the stigma placed on someone with herpes is ridiculous when so many people have it and don't even know.
To gracefrom HHP:
I see now that it would be an advantage to make sure that any new partner is tested so we know where we stand. Thanks for your help.
thank you for chiming in :) Goes to show you that you won't necessarily contract hsv from a partner early on in a relationship which is a point that many folks just don't believe. when I say it really is as much about bad luck as anything, it really is.
grace
grace
My husband gave it to me after 28 years of marriage and he had no clue he had HSV 1 but gave it to my by oral sex. He never has broke out. If we didn't get him tested we never would have known. So you can transmit it even when there is no outbreak and even though it's been years.
your prior partner never had testing done to know his status. just because his current partner hasn't contracted anything yet is meaningless.
At this point you know what you have. Any potential partners need tested to know their own status. If they have hsv2, you can contract that so double the reason why you need partners to get tested.
grace
At this point you know what you have. Any potential partners need tested to know their own status. If they have hsv2, you can contract that so double the reason why you need partners to get tested.
grace
HSV1 shedds much much less frequently than type 2. You might get 1-2 outbreaks in the first year and maybe 1 every other year. This is why most 80-90% do not know they have HSV1 since their outbreaks are so mild or non existent. you can use condoms or antivirals if you would like...would be recomended IF you had HSV2.
Some couples who are together for years or decades when one has HSV1 and the other does not still do not infect their partner despite years of sex. You have little chance of infecting your partner, if this was the first outbreak you had it might be few and far between.
Some couples who are together for years or decades when one has HSV1 and the other does not still do not infect their partner despite years of sex. You have little chance of infecting your partner, if this was the first outbreak you had it might be few and far between.
yi308:
Ooops, yes I meant HSV-1, not HPV. The doctor did give me a dose of antibiotics to take, as well as a prescription for an anti-viral and some type of cream for relief. I didn't understand what the purpose of the antibiotics was at the time, but I was a little upset to say the least so maybe I didn't pay close enough attention.
OttMar:
The test results did not have a specific number, just <0.90 and it just says HerpeSelect.
I guess my biggest concern at this point is what are the chances I could transmit HSV1 to my partner?
Ooops, yes I meant HSV-1, not HPV. The doctor did give me a dose of antibiotics to take, as well as a prescription for an anti-viral and some type of cream for relief. I didn't understand what the purpose of the antibiotics was at the time, but I was a little upset to say the least so maybe I didn't pay close enough attention.
OttMar:
The test results did not have a specific number, just <0.90 and it just says HerpeSelect.
I guess my biggest concern at this point is what are the chances I could transmit HSV1 to my partner?
Grace,
I know that HSV1 IgG tests are not as accurate as HSV2. But would 3 negative tests for IgG HSV 1 cut down the chance of bad accuracy or false negative for a HSV1.
I used the immunoblot twice which is stated to have the 93-95% accuracy for HSV 1 and a IgG combo test for 1-2 as well.
Confused0309,
Do you know what type of test you had? Was it ELISA from Herpe Select? I am assuming it was since you had cutoff number values listed.
I know that HSV1 IgG tests are not as accurate as HSV2. But would 3 negative tests for IgG HSV 1 cut down the chance of bad accuracy or false negative for a HSV1.
I used the immunoblot twice which is stated to have the 93-95% accuracy for HSV 1 and a IgG combo test for 1-2 as well.
Confused0309,
Do you know what type of test you had? Was it ELISA from Herpe Select? I am assuming it was since you had cutoff number values listed.
denial can be a hard river to cross as the saying goes.
You had a + lesion culture of active symptoms. there was never any need for any blood testing. save your money, you know what you have and you know where you have it. The blood tests aren't as good at picking up hsv1 as hsv2 so continuing to go back for blood tests isn't really necessary for you.
You had a + lesion culture of active symptoms. there was never any need for any blood testing. save your money, you know what you have and you know where you have it. The blood tests aren't as good at picking up hsv1 as hsv2 so continuing to go back for blood tests isn't really necessary for you.
many clinics do not report actual numeric results when they are negative. there's no need to.
Usually planned parenthood would have the actual numbers e.g. 0.57 but it's not an issue.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind:
The timing is good for you, a year is more than enough time to develop the antibodies detected by the herpes select igg.
Also, you are clearly in the negative range. Even if you were .91 or 1.6 it would be a low positive.
Still, 1 out 10 igg tests fail to pick up an infection.
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Did you mean antivirals instead of antibiotics, and did you mean HSV-1 instead of HPV-1 (I've never seen a 1 on HPV)? antibiotics wouldn't have done anything for herpes...
As petal mentioned, the culture test is usually determinant of an infection. It is possible there was some mis-communication as to the results of the test however.
There's always a chance for a false positive, as there is for a false negative. I personally would pursue it to straighten out the facts, but keep in mind it's easy to obsess over these things when you don't have clear symptoms.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind:
The timing is good for you, a year is more than enough time to develop the antibodies detected by the herpes select igg.
Also, you are clearly in the negative range. Even if you were .91 or 1.6 it would be a low positive.
Still, 1 out 10 igg tests fail to pick up an infection.
-----
Did you mean antivirals instead of antibiotics, and did you mean HSV-1 instead of HPV-1 (I've never seen a 1 on HPV)? antibiotics wouldn't have done anything for herpes...
As petal mentioned, the culture test is usually determinant of an infection. It is possible there was some mis-communication as to the results of the test however.
There's always a chance for a false positive, as there is for a false negative. I personally would pursue it to straighten out the facts, but keep in mind it's easy to obsess over these things when you don't have clear symptoms.
Yes, he was the only partner that I had sex with, including oral sex. That's why I believed he had given it to me. And yes, his non-supportive attitude did cause me to give him the boot! He said he had been tested a year earlier and was clean, that he hadn't had any kind of outbreak since then to believe he had contracted herpes, he said he had never had an oral outbreak, even as a child, so he didn't believe it could have come from him. I'm going to continue using protection and considering getting a third blood test.
I picked up my test today. It say: HSV Specific Type 1 & 2 IgG Combo (HerpeSelect):
HSV 1 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB <0.90
HSV 2 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB <0.90
HSV 1 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB <0.90
HSV 2 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB <0.90
Never having symptoms means nothing. He could be HSV positive without having symptoms. In a relationship, both partners should be tested, plain and simple. His refusal to do so is questionable. If my potential partner refused any STD testing, I'd not doubt give him the boot.
Did you have genital or oral sex with him within a couple of weeks of being symptomatic? The majority of genital HSV1 cases are transmitted via oral sex.. Again, he did not have to have active symptoms to transmit the virus; it also is transmitted via viral shedding, when the virus is active with no apparent symptoms.
Did you have genital or oral sex with him within a couple of weeks of being symptomatic? The majority of genital HSV1 cases are transmitted via oral sex.. Again, he did not have to have active symptoms to transmit the virus; it also is transmitted via viral shedding, when the virus is active with no apparent symptoms.
I'm also a bit confused because after the initial diagnosis the doctor told me that I would have had to contract it within the last couple of weeks since I had never had an outbreak before then. The guy I was dating refused to get tested and insisted that he did not have herpes and had never had an outbreak. We broke up over this because he was so upset that I accused him of giving it to me. The girl he is now dating (who is on friendly terms with me) has told me that he has insisted the same to her and she has not contracted herpes from him either (she was tested). If he does not have it, then how would I have contracted it if, according to the doctor, it had to have been within a couple weeks of having sex with him. That seems to be what I've read on the internet as well. Is it possible to have contracted it long ago and not have an outbreak at the time of exposure?
The swab/culture trumps any blood test. I never had a blood test to confirm my genital herpes; I had an outbreak, had it swabbed/cultured, and it came back positive for HSV1. It really does not matter what blood test was used quite honestly.
I don't know what type of test was used. I had it done at Planned Parenthood thinking they would use the best testing available since they deal with this stuff all the time. I will be picking up a copy of my results tomorrow from them. I have not seen the results, only received a phone call saying all was negative.
Even the best blood tests miss 1 in every 10 HSV1 infections - so yes, a blood test can be a false negative. The swab/culture you had in fact cannot be a false positive; it actually detects the herpes virus. You know you had an outbreak, and you know the culture was positive for HSV1.
Genital HSV1 (I have it too) doesn't recur often, for some never again. No need for suppressive therapy unless you have frequent OBs (which it sounds like you don't). The majority of adults have oral HSV1, so if your partner has it, no need to worry about transmitting it - just avoid sex during an outbreak (although I don't know how on earth on would have sex anyway during an OB - ouch!).
Genital HSV1 (I have it too) doesn't recur often, for some never again. No need for suppressive therapy unless you have frequent OBs (which it sounds like you don't). The majority of adults have oral HSV1, so if your partner has it, no need to worry about transmitting it - just avoid sex during an outbreak (although I don't know how on earth on would have sex anyway during an OB - ouch!).
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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.
