herpes blood test, low positive, neg. western blot

[helpme0775]

i posted here before about a possible hsv2 exposure.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/herpes-blood-test--low-positive/show/1212191?personal_page_id=1307943#post_5540509

1st test dec 22        2nd march 17
hsv1 .60                  hsv1 .60          
hsv2 1.2                  hsv2 1.22
biokit: faint dot         biokit same

I had my blood drawn for the western blot on April 28th, aprox 20 week after exposure, all negative. The problem is between the time of my last hereselect test and my western blot i saw the doctor twice to have cultures taken of lesions/bumps. We both agreed that one was more than likely an ingrown hair, negative culture. The other was on the shaft of my penis above the hair line. It was a single round (about the size of a pencil eraser), watery sore. It didn't hurt was gone after 5-6 days and healed normal. She agreed with me that it could be due to herpes but the culture also came back negative. (it was cultured 3 days after i noticed it).

I am being told not to worry about the sore or the low positive test results. The western blot is >99% accurate and I should take those results as fact. She also told me after my first herpeselect test there was a 95% chance that I had herpes and I needed to come back in 4-8 week to confirm that fact. I'm so confused at this point.

So should I assume the results of the western blot as gold and move on, or continue searching for an absolute answer. I know this is probably false but I've heard that if someone actually contracted herpes but never had a primary first outbreak they are more likely to have a false negative on the blood tests. Is it possible that my body just isn't producing detectable levels of antibodies or it's just taking longer than normal? Also if there was the chance that I had a igg deficient strain, wouldn't the western blot pick-up the other antibodies produced? Is it possible that I have some 1% rare case of undetectable herpes or should I put this to bed and move on?

[helpme0775]

I know, it's been a rough few months. When the doctor told me there was a 95% chance of me having herpes, and me showings signs I thought it was a done deal. I really can't come to terms and believe the western blot fully. I never took any meds for the condition.

The only other symptoms i've had is a itchy, painfull/raw feeling on my penis. It comes and goes and i've noticed it a few times over the the last few months. Also ever since this all started i've had an on and off dull throbbing pain in what seems to be coming from my right testical. The doctor told me that is not a symptom of herpes and should have and ultrasound done to rule out other problems.

After five months is it possible that I still do not have a significant immune response to trigger the blood test? Does the western blot test for antibodies other than igg? Can not having that first "big" outbreak stall the production of detectable antibodies? In the absence of symptoms is it worth to repeat blood tests at a later date?

Is that pcr swab kit available online? can I order it and send my results directly to the lab? I called my doctor and she didn't know what I was talking about.

thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Your blood tests are indeed confusing combined with a watery sore.  But I would believe the western blot in this case.  Have you taken any antiviral therapy during this time, like Valtrex or acyclovir?  If yes, that could influence the tests.  

I would also recommend that you collect a PCR swab (not culture) at home when you have symptoms next.  Ask your doctor for a kit to keep at home so you can swab anything that shows up immediately if it happens again.

I look forward to your answers to my questions.

Terri