False negative HSV2 Blood Test

[jamie02]

I recently went to the doctor because of a blister type sore on my butt.  I was shocked when they mentioned genital herpes since I've only had one sexual partner in the past 9 years.  The doctor took a culture and a blood test.  The blood test came back positive for HSV1 but negative for HSV2.  She said I could still be positive for HSV2 with a negative blood test if it was a new infection.  About a week later the culture came back positive for HSV2.  My husband then went to the doctor and took a blood test.  His blood test also came back negative for HSV2.  So now my question is...how did I get this?  I've heard a few theories.  Here they are...what do you think is the most probable explanation...  1)  I acquired it from a previous sexual partner (9+ years ago) and just never had a symptom until now, never passed it to my husband, and had a false negative blood test.  2) I'm "unlucky" and caught it in a manner other than sexual contact (ie. bathroom, pool, etc.).  3) My husband is newly infected and has just infected me...and we're just not testing positive in our blood yet.  

[gracefromHHP]

Do you know what your hubby's blood test results were? Can you post them here - ie hsv1 igg 4. 6 and hsv2 igg 5. 8 or whatever they are? Also your blood tests too.

grace

[jamie02]

I never received a copy of my results but he did.  This is what his says...
Test Name- HSV2 IGG, HERPESELECT TYPE SPECIFIC AB
Result- 0.04
Units- EIA value
Explanation of results- EIA value < 0.90 then NEGATIVE- NO HSV-2 IGG ANTIBODY DETECTED

[gracefromHHP]

Just make sure your hsv2 blood test was also an igg and not an igm.

grace

[jamie02]

I was told I'm positive for HSV2 since my culture came back positive so I'm not concerned so much about the validity of my blood test anymore.  I'm just wondering how I'm just now having symptoms if I contracted this from someone other than my husband...which as I mentioned would have to have been atleast 9 years ago.  Also, how is it that I haven't passed this to him over all these years.  The other alternative explanations don't make sense to me either....i.e. contracting it w/out direct skin-to-skin contact (i.e. toilet seat) or contracting it from my husband who also isn't testing positive on his blood test.  There just doesn't seem to be a rational explanation any way you look at it.  

[gracefromHHP]

the reason whether it was an igm or an igg you had done helps to try to figure out if this really is likely to be a newly acquired infection or not which is why I asked.  If it was an igm test then we can't be sure of its results and need the igg to help figure out if this is a newly acquired infection or not.

grace

[waringblender]

I would say either the husband has stepped out on you recently and picked it up, or you had it prior to the marriage. People can go years without having symptoms, or they can go their entire lives and not even realize they have it.

You didn't get it from a toilet or a swimming pool.

[jamie02]

Grace,

I will ask for the test results.  My husband and I go to the same medical facility, however, he now goes to their new location since that is where his primary doctor relocated to.  I assume we received the same type of test since they were administered by the same facility...but I'll find out and get back to you.  

Waringblender,

So you think either of those possibilities are likely even though the blood tests were negative for each of us?  Based on my sexual history prior to my husband, I wouldn't be surprised if I was infected prior to marriage.  I'm just confused as to why our blood test results would be negative in either case.  I thought the "toilet seat" scenario was far fetched but the nurse practioner actually gave that to me as a possible option. Is that ignorant on her part?  

[gracefromHHP]

you won't contract herpes from a toilet seat. You just don't do the things on a toilet seat you need to be doing to get infected even if there was active virus sitting on it ( which is unlikely too since the parts of our bodies that touch the seat typically don't have lesions on or are shedding the virus from ).

Also make sure the lesion culture was actually hsv2 and not just + hsv and assumed hsv2 since it was genital.

only a small percentage of folks won't test + on the blood tests from a well established infection.  

grace

[jamie02]

I feel like any way you look at it I'm a part of that "small percentage" based on the results.    Either I contracted this from a previous sexual partner 9+ years ago, never had a noticeable symptom, and never passed it to my husband OR my husband just recently contracted it, passed it on to me, and we both had false negative blood tests.  Neither of these options seem probable...but it has to be one or the other since it seems these are the only options I have.  I'm just a little frustrated because there doesn't seem to be a logical explanation.  I'm going to take your advice and get my test results.  She said I tested positive for HSV1 in my blood test so I want to confirm the culture results were actually HSV2.  My husband and I also plan to retake the blood tests in 3 months.