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.  

[PleaseHelpSoConfused]

UPDATE:

Since this was such a mystery to me, and was really bothering me, if anyone else ever comes across this situation, maybe this will help.  

As a recap, I had a herpes outbreak with all the signs that it was a first outbreak.  I had slept with only one person in the past year 1/2.  My initial blood test was negative for both HSV 1 and 2.  However, the doctor said that wasn't uncommon, because the antibodies hadn't had time to develop yet.  A culture was sent off.  In the meantime, my boyfriend got his blood tested and he was only positive for HSV1, which he knew he had.  My future came back positive for HSV2.  We were VERY confused, as he had been my only partner in a while.  

I got my blood tested again about a few weeks ago (about seven months post infection).  I was positive for HSV1 ONLY.  I was negative for HSV2.  THE CULTURE TEST WAS WRONG.  I didn't have HSV1 before the outbreak, so it makes sense that I got HSV1 through oral sex.  

Also, I would rarely take the antiviral meds.  I haven't had one single outbreak (aside from the initial one) since.  My doctor agrees the culture test was wrong.  

Get second opinions, people!!!  Culture tests aren't always right.  If the tests don't match up, get retested.  I spent seven months in turmoil for no reason.  HSV1 isn't a big deal.  Like I said, I haven't had an outbreak since.  A LOT of people have HSV1.  

SIGH.  Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there.

Thanks for everyone's input!  Good luck to all of those dealing with HSV2 outbreaks.  I thought I had it, and so I know how you feel.  Try to stay positive!

[PleaseHelpSoConfused]

I also have a very confusing situation.  I have only slept with one person, my boyfriend, for the past 16 months.  Neither of us have ever had any signs of genital outbreaks before.  My boyfriend has had oral/cold sores in the distant past.  

About two weeks ago, I had a weird genital outbreak below my vaginal opening, on my perineum.  I also had flu-like symptoms with a low-grade fever. I freaked out and went to my gyno.  After seeing the outbreak, my gyno said he thought it was my first outbreak of HSV1, but on my genitals (which I would have received after oral sex with someone infection with HSV).  He took my blood for an antibody blood test and took a culture from the sore.  

My blood test came back negative for all HSV antibodies.  My doctor said that could also indicative of an initial outbreak/recent exposure since my body has not yet built up antibodies.  My culture came back positive for HSV2.  

My boyfriend then got a full STD blood panel (I think IGG).  The only thing he was positive for was HSV1 and it read "high."  He was negative for HSV2.

My gyno said he is 99% sure that was my first outbreak, so we are both very confused.  I have not had any recent sexual contact with anyone other than my boyfriend.  I have never had any sort of symptoms for herpes before (neither oral or genital).  I was almost positive I got it from my boyfriend.  However, his blood test was negative for HSV2.  

Is it possible he could have HSV2, but his blood test was wrong?

Is it possible I could have had HSV2 for years, and never had a symptom or outbreak until now?  If so, why did my blood test negative for all HSV antibodies?

Is it possible that my culture tested positive for HSV2, but I really had a genital outbreak of HSV1?  (That seems more plausible, if that's even possible.)

My gyno said I could have been exposed through surface contact, but I haven't been to a tanning bed, a pool, a spa, or anything similar, in a long time.

My gyno also suggested my boyfriend and I get retested in 4-6 weeks.  (It has been about 2 weeks since my outbreak.)  What tests should we get?

PLEASE HELP! I am SO confused!!!

[smesai]

Joanie405 and Jamie02

Did you figure out why this was? I tested negative on my blood test and so did my ex but I keep seeing symptoms that are atypical and not classical. I am unable to move on comfortably because of examples like yours and Jamie02's case. I am worried I may be testing falsely negative. Could one of you please help by posting more information?

[joanie405]

I am in the EXACT same situation!  I am very confused at this, none of it makes sense.  Even contracting it new doesn't make sense.  I had just given birth to triplets and was not allowed to have sex for almost a year prior.  I started having symptoms a few months after I delivered and got checked out and no tests were run because it didn't appear to look like herpes.  It was one small red bump.  Then a year later I went back and they ran a culture and blood test.  Blood came back negative and culture came back positive for HSV2.  So I had it for at least a year.  Then about 6 months later my husband got tested and his blood came back negative.

[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.  

[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]

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?  

[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.

[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

[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]

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

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]

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