HSV I/II Positive (two times), Now Negative

I am a male in my late thirties, happily married for 3 years.  My wife and I have always used a condom for protection, even during our years dating.  We now decided it's time to have children.

Just as a precaution before we have unprotected sex, we both got tested for STD's the beginning of April 2011.  My wife tested negative for everything.  I tested negative for everything, except for a positive result for HSV 1/2.  The test was done by Labcorp, and the test was a HSV I/II IgG test.

The results: Positive 1.8

Apparently positive results are based on the scale that follows:  

Negative 1.0

My doctor wanted to run a type specific test to confirm the results, and know if I had HSV 1 or HSV 2.  So three weeks later (last week of April 2011) I had another blood draw.  However, there was a mix up at Labcorp, and instead of running a type specific test, they ran the same HSV I/II IgG test all over again.

This time around, the result: 1.9 Positive.

Based on these results, my doctor prescribed Acyclovir 200mg twice a day as a low dose suppressive therapy, since I don't have any obvious symptoms of Herpes 1 or 2.  My doctor said that this suppressive therapy can reduce the chances of my wife contracting Herpes, just in case it was HSV 2, which can cause neonatal Herpes.

My Doctor still wanted to run type specific tests though, and so during the first week of June 2011, I went in for another blood draw for my Type Specific Herpes Tests.

This time Labcorp did a HSV 1 and 2 - Specific Ab, IgG test.

The results for type specific HSV 1 :  <0.91 Negative.

The results for type specific HSV 2 :  <0.91 Negative.

So now my Doc says "Don't worry, you don't have Herpes."  But with two tests showing as positive, how can I all of a sudden be negative just a month and half later.  My wife doesn't want to catch any life long STD.  If we are going to have unprotected sex, I would like to take all of the proper precautions, and be on the right suppressive therapy (Valtrex) at the right dosage.

I don't know which test results to believe.  Am I negative now because of the low dose Acyclovir?  I doubt there could be two false positives.

I plan on getting tested again, but I feel like I've been on emotional roller coaster that never stops.  I just want to know - am I positive or negative, and which type am I positive for if I am positive.  I want to feel happy about the most recent negative result on the type specific test, but I simply can't.

Has this happened to anyone else?  Please help!

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Concerned Husband

[Mistakeguy789]

I read your post and thought wow.  

I am glad to see that you are taking precuations and worried about your wife's STD risks.  Part of being married is looking out for our spouse.  In your case the news is good I think.  You both did good in testing using an IgG test.

I won't interpret your results outside of giving you some basic information.  Grace is knowledgeable on the testing and can do that for you.  I highly recommend that you listen to her advice as she is trained in the testing and no one else on this forum has the training.

Your first test is a combo test.  While the combo HSV IgG test is way better than the IgM test (IgM is outdated and shouldn't be used for HSV at all) it is flawed in the since that it may show results like yours.  A positive but in reality a negative is the case.  We advise our posters to only use the type specific igg testing.  Your provider did you an error by ordering the combo test.  You should only be tested using a type specific so you know what if any type.  

When grace gets a chance to review your results go from there.  But don't put much into the combo testing at all.  

[gracefromHHP]

your provider appears to be fairly clueless about testing for herpes as well as how to treat  it!  

You should've never been started on acyclovir because of a + combined herpes test. also the 200mg 2x/day dose is ineffective so they were wasting your time and money, not protecting your partner!

Your type specific tests were negative. encourage your provider to update their herpes knowledge by reading the 2010 cdc herpes guidelines and to only order type specific testing!

grace

[positivenegative]

Thank you Grace and Mistakeguy for your help.  I greatly appreciate it.

Basically, my doctor says the type specific results are the ones to go with, not the two positive combined test results.  My doctor has much more confidence in the type specific results.

Because I tested negative for type specific test, my doctor says there's no real need for further testing.  My doctor said that the chance of a false negative from the Labcorp type specific test is close to zero, so why keep testing.  Is this true?

Can my wife and I stop worrying and move on with our lives?  Or should I still press my doctor for further testing?

Thanks again for your help!

[gracefromHHP]

I wouldn't bother with any further testing.

[positivenegative]

Thanks Grace!  

You don't think the lose dose Acyclovir had anything to do with the negative result?

[gracefromHHP]

nope. this wouldn't have been a newly acquired infection for you so it wouldn't have been an issue at all with your testing.

[positivenegative]

Thanks again Grace!  

It's time to make a baby!  My wife and I are so grateful for your advice!

It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

This Medhelp forum is fantastic.  You're doing a great job - really helping people in need.  Keep up the great work.

[gracefromHHP]

HAVE FUN!!!

[treegirl57]

Hi Grace,

Nine years ago, I was tested and got a negative HSV 2 result (igG was 0.51) four months after I'd been sexual with someone I knew to be positive.  Five months later, I tested positive for HSV 2 (igG was 1.84).  I asked my doctor how I could be positive, and she said that it was because I had been exposed to the virus, and that if I had truly been positive the first time around, my igG would have been 0.0.  What do you think about this?

Secondly, why do the numbers fluctuate?

Third, if you've been "exposed" but test negative, does this mean you can infect someone else?

Finally, I've never had symptoms and have not been sexually active in the nine years since the positive result.  I decided to get tested again, and this time, the results were negative.  I'm going to get the Western Blot to confirm.  Do you think I should get the Western Blot?

Thanks!