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Should I get retested for HSV
I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I was having some irritation after my period and I noticed a sore. I was worried because me and my boyfriend of a year and half got back together after being broke up for a few months. I was worried he gave me something. The doctor couldn't confirm anything by looking at it and I had no other symptoms. She did a culture and blood tests.
The culture came back inadequate but the IGG test came back positive for both HSV 1 and 2 and I had BV. I was going to accept it and move on but I just want to be sure. The IGM came back negative and I know that doesn't mean much. My boyfriends test was negative and the IGG test they gave me has no range. I called the lab the test used was Multiplexflow Immunoassay. Negative or positive, no range.
If I had a test with a range showing a high positive, a positive culture, a positive IGM, or a positive boyfriend, I wouldn't even question it. Should I just accept it, or get retested?
The culture came back inadequate but the IGG test came back positive for both HSV 1 and 2 and I had BV. I was going to accept it and move on but I just want to be sure. The IGM came back negative and I know that doesn't mean much. My boyfriends test was negative and the IGG test they gave me has no range. I called the lab the test used was Multiplexflow Immunoassay. Negative or positive, no range.
If I had a test with a range showing a high positive, a positive culture, a positive IGM, or a positive boyfriend, I wouldn't even question it. Should I just accept it, or get retested?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You need to find a doctor that will DRAW it then you can send it back to UW>
Terri
Terri
Thanks. I called UW and they are sending me the kit for the Western Blot. I just need to find a doctor to order it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
YES!! They can impact testing. Please do not take it until you know if you have herpes or not.
Terri
Terri
My doctor prescribed me suppressive meds. Should I wait to take these after I have been retested?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your doctor is unaware of the pitfalls with herpes IgM testing. You do have good reason to be retested, yes. If you want to get the western blot, you can order a test kit to be shipped directly to you by the University of Washington which you will take to your doctor for the blood draw and they will prepare and ship it back and you can contact our office and we can arrange for you to be drawn at a local lab in your area.
Terri
Terri
Also at first I thought the sore was from my panties rubbing that area. I do get irritated from those same panties every time I wear them but sometimes on the other side. But it never made a sore like that. Just a little more info. The sore was not painful until the doctor scrapped it for the sample. Thanks for your time.
Maybe I'm in denial and should move on? But I feel like I have good reasons for wanting to get retested.
Thank you! I'm 37 and have not received oral in awhile. I guess the test came back inadequate because there wasn't a good enough sample, maybe, and it couldn't be tested. She said the sore was too old and couldn't get enough fluid but I went in the day after I noticed the sore and never saw a blister. I would like to get a different test to know for sure. Especially if you are not familiar with the test. I want to get the western blot test. It's crazy because I have never had a sore before and I thought my boyfriend gave me something and he is negative so I must have it for awhile. Also the doctor said since my igm test was negative, this isn't new.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hmmmm. That's a tough one. I'm not familiar with that test. And I'm not really certain what an inadequate results means on the swab test either. But a sore is never a great thing in the genital area. Something is up.
Let me ask you a few other questions: have you been the receiver of oral sex - someone else's mouth on your genitals? How old are you?
Here's what I would do if you were my patient: I would ask you get either get a western blot which is easy for me and not as easy for you or I would ask that you get a more traditional HSV antibody test, using perhaps herpeselect, the Quest test or Captia, the Labcorp test. Those do provide ranges and that would help me sort this out for you. You can arrange those online. Does that sound like something you could do?
Terri
Let me ask you a few other questions: have you been the receiver of oral sex - someone else's mouth on your genitals? How old are you?
Here's what I would do if you were my patient: I would ask you get either get a western blot which is easy for me and not as easy for you or I would ask that you get a more traditional HSV antibody test, using perhaps herpeselect, the Quest test or Captia, the Labcorp test. Those do provide ranges and that would help me sort this out for you. You can arrange those online. Does that sound like something you could do?
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
