HSV 1 and 2 results and further testing

[8enn4]

Hi,

Well, I just had my first check up in many many years and although the doctor has told me I'm quite healthy, he said I tested positive for HSV 2. What worries me is how nonchalant he was about it. After he went through all my results I asked him if I should be worried about it. He said that even though I have it, I may never show any signs of it and that it wasn't until recently that they have been able to test for it without an actual sore being present. That being said, he went on and told me that a lot of his older patients have tested positive for it and have never shown any signs.

I asked him if this will change my sex life with my GF and he said no. That I should use condoms and all that good stuff. So here is where I am confused...

My levels for HSV 1 and 2 IgG Type specific were 60.60 and 2.89 respectively. Are HSV 1 levels that high normal? I have been with my GF for six months and usually have unprotected sex with her. She recently (about 2 months) tested positive for HPV (not the high risk kind) during her yearly OBGYN visit. I am assuming I have gotten it as well. I asked my doctor about testing and he told me that there are no standard HPV tests for males that are not super expensive and recommended I not worry about it unless a lesion becomes present (he pretty much told me the same thing about the HSV 2). Is there any chance that me being expossed to that skewed my results? Also, what is the likelihood that I have transmitted HSV 2 to my GF? Can I continue to have sex with her without a condom and if so, what are the chances of spreading infection if I'm not showing any symptoms? What "symptoms" should I be looking for too? My doc said that the lesions are painful and I would know if I had one...

I would like to know if there is a possibility of a false positive or if I should consider further testing like I've been reading about here (western blot).

Well thanks in advance and I apologize for the lengthy post.

B

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Great, good to hear.

Terri

[8enn4]

Understood. It's true that the stigma of this is what's probably causing me most of my worries. Even my gf does not seem as worried about it. She has actually told me the same thing as you and has been very supportive.

Thank you, I will definitely need to change my point of view in these areas!

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Good, I'm glad you wore getting the test.  
Even if you have herpes by western blot, it doesn't mean you aren't "clean".  It would just mean that you contracted a viral infection genitally.  I think the words we use to describe being infected or not infected are important in how we think about this.  Small thing, yes, and I'm not being critical of you, I'm just pointing out that how we think about things and the words we use to describe things can shape how we feel about things.

Terri

[8enn4]

Thanks Terri!

It's been over 7 or 8 months since I've been with anyone other than my gf. She asked her doctor about this and said they don't usually screen for hsv 2. Neither of us have shown any symptoms ever. She's going in for a blood test this week.

I looked around online and got in contact with U of W to order their test kit and it is on the way. I just need to find a doc that will do blood draw and prep.

I really appreciate your replies. I'm feeling a bit hopeful that I may be clean. I will  play it safe for now and see what happens.

Thanks again! It's hard not to freak out about these things sometimes...

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

When a person has an index value in your range, there is a 50-50 chance it is a false positive.  

I can order a western blot through Quest labs but I doubt you can get it through Quest in any other way, but you can sure try.  Quest started using another test that I don't think is as good as the western blot, and I kicked up such a fuss that they let me continue ordering it.  For which I am eternally grateful, very gracious of them, I must say.  

You should wait 16 weeks from any risky encounter to do that test for greatest accuracy and no antiviral medicine if you are going to do that one, OK?  It can impact the results.

Terri

[8enn4]

Another thing, sorry to keep pestering, but how common are these false positives?

I fear my doc has told a bunch of people they have hsv 2 and had them panic just like me...

[8enn4]

Also, what is the usual time frame for this test?

Thanks again!

[8enn4]

The paper the doctor gave me said labcorp on them. I don't know if that helps. I'm kind of nervous about all this... I have not been with many partners and haven't been very risky, but, I know it only takes one time.

I have read that Quest offers the WB test. There is a location near me. Could I go through them to set up the test?

Thank you very much for your response.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I am thinking there is a good chance that you have a false positive on your HSV 2 test.  Again, you have a test result where the HSV 1 result is very high.  Do you know which lab was used to obtain the testing you had done?  Yes, these low positives need confirmation by a second test.  And for now, the best we have is the western blot at the University of Washington.  

If you truly do have herpes, I also think your girlfriend should be tested to see her status.  If she is negative and you test positive by western blot, you should probably consider daily antiviral medicine to reduce the risk of infecting her.  But we are way ahead of ourselves here!  Let's first find out your true status.  Even if you were tested by herpeselect (which you were not because your values don't fit with that test) and had the 2.89 value, you would still be considered low positive and need confirmation.  What we see in people who have very robust HSV 1 responses, sometimes it can cause a false positive.  

I hope you will get clarity soon so you know where to go from here.

Terri