False Positive? What tests should I ask for?

Doctor,

I have recently been given an HSV 2 IgG screen and received a 1.6 positive result.  Concurrently, I was told that my HSV 1 IgG resulted in a non-detection.

I have been tested twice in the past 6 months and received a clean bill of health upon my first test (Late May of this year) and I have only slept with one person in the past 13 months (once in November, once in January, and once in May).  She has also only slept with me in the past 6 months.

She was tested this June and was told that she had was not HSV 2 positive.  The only other sexual contact I've had with other partners has been kissing.  What is the likelyhood I've received a false positive result or contracted oral HSV 2.  What tests should I ask for?  I am virtually clueless with what to do.

It is also important to note that I have not had herpes outbreak.  I was asymptomatic when I was tested - just trying to be responsible before engaging in a new relationship.

Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

This is not the doctor's forum - you have to pay to post there.


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724?personal_page_id=873762#post_5060604  is a prior post on the low positive hsv2 igg results for more reading.


bottom line, odds are this is a false positive but you should confirm that with further testing.  A herpes biokit or a herpes WB would be the 2 best tests to chose from for confirming your status.

grace

[freeman10]

How I can find a herpes biokit test ?

[ME2003]

Grace,

Thank you for the quick follow up.  I was wondering if you had knowledge of two additional things.  First, I understand the cross re-activity of the HSV 1 antibody and the HSV 2 antibody, but what could possibly cause a false positive in the absence of HSV 1?  Is there some dormant antibody from experiencing chicken pox as a child, or is there something else I might want to look into?

While I am deeply confused by this whole situation, I am having a hard time coming to grips with how a false positive in my situation would exist.  Any light you could shed on this issue would be helpful (hopefully for me and whoever might read this post).

Secondly, I am also wondering what I should do if I retest positive, but have had no sexual partners who've had the virus?  Does that mean I contracted it orally, and if so, what are the implications?

Thanks again,
Max

[gracefromHHP]

even the best herpes blood tests still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. You can't always assume that you really are hsv1 negative.  

there are false positives with any test out there. that's why we test you with 2 tests for syphilis and hiv for example.  science isn't perfect yet.

if you do actually have a true positive, odds are you'll never figure out who you got it from. most folks are not being properly tested for herpes. you could have it orally but odds are you don't.  the only way to know would be if you got an obvious cold sore and got it cultured.

grace

[freeman10]

Where I can find a herpes biokit test ?