HSV 2 IGG equivocal (0.9) to positive (1.38)??

[Hyperdogs]

Hello and thank you ahead of time for your response.  Needless to say, I'm worried sick.  I'll keep my emotions out of it and give you the facts/scenario, then let you comment:

11/3/09: HSV 2 IGG Herpesselect result was 0.91 EQUIVOCAL
11/20/09: Redrawn, HSV 2IGG herpesselect result was 1.38 POSITIVE

Recent sexual history:
1 partner, last had sex roughly around 10/9/09  The sex was protected for the most part, EXCEPT for roughly 2 mins of unprotected penetration.
Same girl I had full on penetration until completion back in 6/09

I pulled my bloodwork from recent years and here's what I noticed for previous tests:
10/14/08 HSV2 negative, no value given
10/26/07 HSV2 IGG herpeselect type specific AB 0.57 NEGATIVE
9/16/05 HSV1/2 Herpeselect  type 1: 0.29 NEGATIVE type 2: 0.85 NEGATIVE

Questions:
1. I'm a "low positive" now and will obviously ask my doctor for a western blot.  Should I get this at ANY time?  I go through labcorp, any administrative tips?

2. If you look at my history, I had a 0.57 in 2007 and a 0.85 in 2005.  What is "normal" range for antibodies for negative?  Do I just carry some antibodies around??  I'm at 1.38 now, which is obviously concerning.

3.  In your opinion, does this seem like a false positive, especially with me hitting a 0.85 4 years ago?!

Furthermore, I'm going to meet with the girl and ask her about her history.  She claims to have just been tested, clean for everything.  If she truly is clean, (i might ask to see papers), then is it safe to say this will most likely be a false positive?  The last girl I slept with was probably back in July, with a condom.

Thanks, and I"ll let you know what I find out from this girl.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I would wait 4 months from the episode that concerns you to draw the western blot.  I would go from the October date.  

This needs to be the final post on this thread, OK?

Terri

[Hyperdogs]

Another point of clarification, after reading through my posts. And another question.

10/9/09 was when I for sure had roughly 2 mins of unprotected sex with the hsv2 positive girl, then followed by completion with a condom.

on 11/19/09 I had sex with a condom, with the same girl.  Should the date of possible exposure be the limited unprotected sex or the protected sex?  This question is in addition to my previous post.

Thanks.

[Hyperdogs]

Hello

it's now 12/21.  I waited on doing my third igg test even after finding out the girl was hsv2 positive.

I waited because I ordered and now have the western blot kit.

Few questions

1. Should I bother getting an igg test too or just get te wb done?

2. Is this enough time since the few mins of unprotected sex I had in oct for the wb?

3. My dr usually sends me to labcorp but all I see on the net is about quest. Can I still go to labcorp? What do I do?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You might wish to repeat your ELISA now and see what the score is.  I'm still hopeful.  Don't get down, people have sex with a partner who has herpes for years and never get it!  Lets just take one step at a time.  There is absolutely nothing you can do now, what is, is.  Its just a matter of sorting it out.  We'll keep on it.

Terri

[Hyperdogs]

Terri,

Received some news today... does not look promising.

The girl I slept with in early October went to planned parenthood and got tested.

positive for hsv2.  No values on igg.  The doctor on staff said she was over 3, no chance of being negative.

This does not make my odds better.  Worse, i'm sure.

I'm still waiting 16 weeks from october to get a western blot... or do you think I should do it sooner?

I have another igg scheduled for end of htis month, should I even bother?

Terri, in your opinion, based on this news....  what are my chances now?  Based on your experience?

So sad.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

And I should say that the protein might not be related at all to herpes, by the way.

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I actually see it pretty often.  Especially in people who have a high positive.  And the reason is that the western blot looks for specific proteins, and you may have some protein that is present that is causing these high negatives/low positives.  Western blot is good when you have enough money for sure.  Go for it!  

You're welcome, and go eat some turkey, OK?
Terri

[Hyperdogs]

Happy Thanksgiving Terri.  Nothing like Turkey, family, and Herpes consults.

When it comes to this, money is not an issue.

So one of my original questions was: what is the "normal" values for negatives?

As you noted, the lowest of my negatives was 0.51.  Am I just some kind of freak where I carry antibodies around and hopefully DON'T have the infection?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but indeterminate?  When have you seen that before, and what does that usually come out to? pos? neg?

Thank you VERY VERY much again Terri.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Well, you certainly can!  I was actually trying to save you some money more than anything, but as I think more about it, I'm also concerned about this series of low positives/high negatives.  Your western blot could reflect this as well, by coming up with an "indeterminate" result.  Sometimes we see that in people who have this particular combination of test results.  But having said all of that, go ahead and get the western blot, and lets just deal with the results as they come.  Remember with the western blot, you need to wait 16 weeks, for sure, after an exposure that is risky for HSV infection.  

Terri

[Hyperdogs]

Thank you very very much for the reply.

I am a little confused though.  The western blot seems like the gold standard, why would you suggest I NOT take it?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Condoms reduce the risk of transmission between 30-50%.  The thigh area, though innervated by the same nerves as the genital area and can be a location for outbreaks, do not shed virus and are not infectious in between outbreaks.  So coming into contact with those areas, when there is no outbreaks present DO NOT present a risk of infection.  Andreab19 is incorrect.  

Now, to address your questions.  I would recommend another ELISA actually, about 4 months from the time of your exposure to this partner.  You could do a western blot, but because you have a documented history of negative ELISAs and a very low positive this time, my guess is that you have a false positive result this time., but we can't be certain of that.  You've had some high negative results, higher than I would expect, so I'm wondering if you have some other protein that is interacting with this test.

If your partner gets tested and is negative for HSV 2, I think you can put your concerns completely to rest.

Terri

[andreab19]

I am not the doctor but I have some information for you...
Condoms do little to protect against Herpes because the infected area is often not the inside of the vagina or the shaft of the penis. The thighs, areas around the genitals, etc. are usually affected. Simply coming into contact with those areas can get you Herpes, even if no sores are apparent on the other person.

[Hyperdogs]

Additional note: my current doctor didn't test me for hsv1, he says "no point, everybody has it"

I also asked him about false positives, he said "not likely"  

Also, I've had NO SYMPTOMS. EVER.