False positive

[gingernga]

To be on the safe side, I had a total STD blood test a week ago. It came back postive for herpes 1 and 2. I know that I have 1 because I get cold sores. I was shocked about the 2 part. None of my partners have had an outbreak. My most recent partners have been tested in the past week and have come back negative. My current boyfriend tested negative. Even if I am only a "carrier" and the 20 year medical assistant keeps telling me, I don't see how my boyfriend isn't positive as well. I'm glad that he isn't of course. So I've looked at different posts and called my doctor back, spoke to the same medical assistant. I took a blood test and the 2 rating (or score) was like 2.49 or something. It was definately under a 3. I'd like to be retested but not sure what type of test to take. Can you please advise me? I don't have sores or blisters, never have. What type of doctor would be the most knowlegdeable about herpes and retests? I've heard that many doctors don't know or believe in false positives and the medical assistant laughed and said that she had never heard of a false positive. I understand that it only takes once, but I've been careful and don't know what to do next or when to do it. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

no  labcorp doesn't offer the herpes WB.

http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm  has all the info for your provider to send the test out for you.

[gingernga]

Hi Grace,

One more question...(at last for tonight). Do you happen to know if LabCorps has a WB test? My insurance doesn't cover Quest... and lab tests are expensive, but I would pay at this point.

Thank you in advance!

[gracefromHHP]

not a problem - let us know how your follow up testing turns out!

[gingernga]

Sorry Grace! I just see from your first post that you have already answered this question. I've read so much and have taken notes, but the notes and information are running together at this point - so again, sorry for asking something that you've already answered on this post!

Thank you Grace for everything!

[gingernga]

Grace, I am so sorry for another question. But does it matter whether I've already had an igg test? I don't think the dr's office said igm but igg. Are there still problems with igg? I'm really praying to be negative and that this first test was a false positive.

[gingernga]

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I understand the feeling of devastation. Unfortunately I don't know enough to assist you. You may want to post your own question but please read through recent posts, like me, you might find some answers there.

Good luck to you. I pray that you are comforted and find the answers that you need.

[gingernga]

Thank you =) Again, I really appreciate what you've helped me with and am thankful for you being here. I would have been totally lost and frustrated without you.

[gracefromHHP]

http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm has all the info your provider needs to order up a herpes WB for you.  if they use quest labs it's usually test # 34534. it's a send out so if your local quest lab is saying it doesn't exist, tell them to look a little bit harder because it really does and it's a part of their national test menu.

[HardLyfe]

I'm a female and I've never had a cold sore or OB in my life. I haven't had sex in about 3-4 years and this was my first time with a longtime friend (male best friend) with whom I had oral and vaginal sex. So it's someone who I trust. He wore a condom. 4 days later I notice 3-4 small bumps below my vagina on the right. It itched initially but that was it. Didn't hurt or cause pain, was just there. I went to an std clinic the next day (with him) and we both got tested. He thought I was overreacting because he thinks I'm a hypochondriac. Everything came back negative for both of us. However, the doc looked at my bumps, did a culture which came back positive for hsv1. My friend didn't get tested for herpes as it's a free clinic and went tested at his private doc.  His results came back negative for both hsv 1 and 2. He said he has never had a cold sore in or on his mouth before, but had a canker sore which only occurred abt two months prior when he had a tooth extracted which he said  'hurt like hell.' So I then went to my gyn and got retested (praying that it would be negative too) but it came back positive for hsv 1. I have no reason to believe that he's lying to me as this is someone who I've known to confide in me about everything. Also he has had multiple partners, which he told me about, but got tested regularly. I have only had two other partners, the first was 7 years ago, the second happened 3-4 years ago!

Is it possible that his test was a false negative (because I'm convinced I got it from him), or could it be that I've had this since my last partner from 3-4 years ago (or before) and had no symptoms??

To say the least, I'm devastated :(

Thanks for any input.

[gingernga]

Thank you. I've went through them as much as I can.

I appreciate your assistance. Is there a place to look up doctors who do WB or biokit tests? The only thing I've found (and I've tried to dilengtly look at posts 4 or 5 pages back) was to good it. I found a clinical research site, but I'm more looking for doctors or labs in my area.

I'm in the Atlanta, GA area.

Thank you so much for what you do here!

[gracefromHHP]

there is a current post on either the first page or 2nd page of this forum on confirming low positive hsv2 igg results. check it out for more reading if you haven't already.

a herpes WB is the best blood test to get to confirm your status.

A medical assistant typically isn't educated on interpreting lab test results to be aware of low positives and such.  It's not in their scope of practice.

grace