second opinion

[nyalisha]

I literally just left my gynocologist and i can say i am not in the best of moods.  My test results came back positive for herpes 1 and herpes 2 through blood.  She told me that my body is fighting it and the antibodies were waht was found, that is why i havent had an outbreak.  I have never had an outbreak or symptom and i was actually very shocked at my results.  As soon as i got home i began to google whatever information that i could find, now i feel like i should get a second opinion.  I have been getting herpes "cold sores" since i was a little girl.  My mom gets them my grandmother gets them, it runs in my family, so that was not too much of a surprise for me, but since I have never had a symtpom or outbreak, and i am reading that the results can be misdiagnosed, should i get a second opinion?  I really dont know what to think right now.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Hmmm.  Do you know what lab was used?  Does it say IgG, IgM?  Quest labs does a test that always gives an index value as does LabCorp. It could have been done by some local lab.  There is one type specific test that doesn't given an index value called an immunoblot, that could have been done.  Also, western blot, but I'm pretty sure they didn't do that one, but if they did it is very reliable.   If I were you, I would call the lab and don't identify yourself, but rather, ask what sort of herpes antibody tests they do there and who is the manufacturer.  They might not tell you, but probably worth a try.  I can see how this would be very frustrating, of course!  Can you post for me on this board, word for word, what the result says?
Terri

[nyalisha]

I got a copy of the paperwork and there is no index number, when i called, she told me whatever the lab sent is all they have and they are unaware of any index number.  I also called the lab and asked what kind of testing they used, they told me I had to ask my doctor but she told me I had to ask the lab.  This is so frustrating :(

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The GYN should have that number, though they may be unaware that it has any importance.  I doubt that the lab itself would give you that number.

Terri

[nyalisha]

Can I recieve that information from my Gynocologist or from the lab that the testing was done?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

What you need before we can go any further is the numeric value associated with your HSV 2 positive IgG test.  You can call and get that.  It is specifically called an index value.  If the number is between 1.1 and 3.5, you need a confirmatory test, a different test, to be certain this isn't a false positive.  If the value is over 3.5, then I doubt there is any chance of a false positive.  Lets get the index value first, then talk more, OK?

Terri