HSV-1

I have just recieved a positive result on an HSV-1 test. I was negative on the HSV-2. My test was prompted by a call from a former partner who tested positive for HSV-2. We were both tested (I thought) before we were together. I was negative on both at that time (Jan 2008). I did have one previous equivicol HSV-1 result that when I retested came back negative. At that time he indicated that he was negative as well, but I didn't see the test results. Regardless my recollection was that during the 2 months we were together we used condoms, but he recalled one time that we didn't. We also engaged mutally in oral sex without a condom.

I thought that HSV-1 was oral herpes (cold sores) but upon research discover that you can have genital HSV-1. I've not been with any one since and the last time we were together was March 2008. I have had no symtoms (symptoms) or outbreak orally or vaginally. Here are my questions:

1)  Is there any way for me to know if my HSV-1 is oral or genital? Given the scenario above if one or the other more likley?
2) If he had HSV-2 could I have gotten HSV-1 from him? If not, should I retest given my previous equivicol result?
3)  If oral, can I transmit HSV-1 genital to a man through performing oral sex


Any additional informations would be appreciated

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

What is the value on the HSV 1 test result (there is a number associate with the result).  Sometimes, when the test has a low positive value, it is a false positive.  If the value is between 1.1 and 3.5 I would recommend that you get a western blot to confirm or deny this result.  This can be done through Quest labs, code 34534.  If it is positive, you can't know if your infection is oral or genital, unless you have ever in your life had a cold sore in which case it is oral.  You would not get HSV 1 from him if he has HSV 2, no.

Terri

[maine2009]

My results were Type 1    1.16  Positive
                        Type 2  <0.9   Negative

His results  

HERPES-1 (IGG) ANTIBODY 0.03 0.00-0.89 INDEX
HERPES-2 (IGG) ANTIBODY 2.37 H 0.00-0.89 INDEX

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Your value is probably very close to the indeterminate value that you had previously.  It is just barely positive, and I question its validity.  he also has a low positive HSV 2 result.  I believe that both of your should have western blot confirmation.  It could be that neither of you are infected, or it could be that you both are, hard to say.

Terri

[maine2009]

I will do that. Assuming I am, and he is the only possible source, does that fact that he is type 1 negative/type 2 positive and I am type 1 positive(potentially)/type 2 negative tell you anything as to whether my type 1 would be oral or genital?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Nothing at all, nope.  The test might have missed his HSV 1 infection, or your earlier tests could have missed it, or you could be not infected with HSV 1.  The test for HSV 1 is only 91% sensitive, so it misses at least one out of 10.

Terri

[maine2009]

I guess the heart of my question is this:

Can type 2 pass/result in on type 1? Can type 1 pass/result in type 2?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No to both.

terri