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Help! HSV 2 - Medical Mystery
by Andy898, Nov 07, 2009 03:51PM
Hello,
I am hopeful someone can offer some advice on this situation which both my MD, my monogomous sexual partner and myself find to be very out of the ordinary, confusing, alarming and to a degree: impossible.
For the past year I have been exclusively dating (hetero/unprotected sex) a woman who just had her HSV 1 and HSV 2 test results returned with .21 serum levels = negative results.
Prior to our relationship - I had a number of STD screenings done - and my HSV-1 and HSV-2 results were also always negative.
Last week, I have received the results from my most recent annual screening which read:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
HSV-1 IGG (Negative)
HSV 2 IGG (Positive)
HSV IGM (Reactive)
"Reactive, but NOT diagnostic. Confirmatory testing by immunoflourescence antibody (IFA) is required and has been ordered under test 'Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Anyibody, IgM, by Immunoflourescence Assay (IFA), Serum."
Misc RFLX TEST
HSV Ab, IgM, S by IFA (Positive)
HSV IgM performed by immunoflourescence antibody (IFA). Results suggest recent or reactivated infection.
______________________________________________________________________________________
If my exclusive partner of 1 year has just tested negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2, and I have historically had the same results, and we have not been with any other partners + I have never had a single symptom of either HSV-1 or HSV-2 ever - does it make sense my most recent results are accurate?
Is this possible:
I have been under a period of severe and sustained stress and noticed various abnormalities with my immune system (unprecedented susceptability to colds, coughs, etc, insomnia, weight loss over the past year) All of my other blood serum results were normal - except elevated White Blood Cell counts (11.5).
At the time of my blood draw, I was four days into fighting a severe Staph infection of my right eye and was on oral Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium Tablets (875mg/125mg) BID as well as Clindamycin HCL 150 MG Capstev.
Could this combination of stress, fatigue and heavy antibiotics have effected my immune system and allowed for an elevated serum HSV-2 antibody level reading at the time of the test to raise them to a positive level?
Unfortunately the HSV screenings (IFA) tests I have had done regularly for years have never come with serum (range) levels. So I plan to be retested early this week, but am curious if the above mentioned factors could have possibly had an effect on my 'reactive positive' reading. Perhaps I was exposed many years ago but my immune system was stronger during past tests and able to keep my serum antibody levels in the negative range for the past 8 years of tests I have had done?
My MD also finds it 'very odd' that if I am indeed positive for HSV-2 that my exclusive partner of over one year would test negative - and not show any recent exposure or reactive results to the virus. Her serum levels were remarkably low, and we have had consistent monogomous (unprotected sex) relationship for quite some time. Plus being asympomatic for my entire life further seemed to add to the confusion.
Also how reliable is the Immunoflourescence Antibody (IFA) test statistically?
Many thanks for any advice here - very confused and hopeful this is some medical anomaly and not the real thing.
Thanks, Andy
I am hopeful someone can offer some advice on this situation which both my MD, my monogomous sexual partner and myself find to be very out of the ordinary, confusing, alarming and to a degree: impossible.
For the past year I have been exclusively dating (hetero/unprotected sex) a woman who just had her HSV 1 and HSV 2 test results returned with .21 serum levels = negative results.
Prior to our relationship - I had a number of STD screenings done - and my HSV-1 and HSV-2 results were also always negative.
Last week, I have received the results from my most recent annual screening which read:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
HSV-1 IGG (Negative)
HSV 2 IGG (Positive)
HSV IGM (Reactive)
"Reactive, but NOT diagnostic. Confirmatory testing by immunoflourescence antibody (IFA) is required and has been ordered under test 'Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Anyibody, IgM, by Immunoflourescence Assay (IFA), Serum."
Misc RFLX TEST
HSV Ab, IgM, S by IFA (Positive)
HSV IgM performed by immunoflourescence antibody (IFA). Results suggest recent or reactivated infection.
______________________________________________________________________________________
If my exclusive partner of 1 year has just tested negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2, and I have historically had the same results, and we have not been with any other partners + I have never had a single symptom of either HSV-1 or HSV-2 ever - does it make sense my most recent results are accurate?
Is this possible:
I have been under a period of severe and sustained stress and noticed various abnormalities with my immune system (unprecedented susceptability to colds, coughs, etc, insomnia, weight loss over the past year) All of my other blood serum results were normal - except elevated White Blood Cell counts (11.5).
At the time of my blood draw, I was four days into fighting a severe Staph infection of my right eye and was on oral Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium Tablets (875mg/125mg) BID as well as Clindamycin HCL 150 MG Capstev.
Could this combination of stress, fatigue and heavy antibiotics have effected my immune system and allowed for an elevated serum HSV-2 antibody level reading at the time of the test to raise them to a positive level?
Unfortunately the HSV screenings (IFA) tests I have had done regularly for years have never come with serum (range) levels. So I plan to be retested early this week, but am curious if the above mentioned factors could have possibly had an effect on my 'reactive positive' reading. Perhaps I was exposed many years ago but my immune system was stronger during past tests and able to keep my serum antibody levels in the negative range for the past 8 years of tests I have had done?
My MD also finds it 'very odd' that if I am indeed positive for HSV-2 that my exclusive partner of over one year would test negative - and not show any recent exposure or reactive results to the virus. Her serum levels were remarkably low, and we have had consistent monogomous (unprotected sex) relationship for quite some time. Plus being asympomatic for my entire life further seemed to add to the confusion.
Also how reliable is the Immunoflourescence Antibody (IFA) test statistically?
Many thanks for any advice here - very confused and hopeful this is some medical anomaly and not the real thing.
Thanks, Andy
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Daisy
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusing-Igg-Test-Results/show/771141 ; has more info on the low positives and why you need additional testing done. The test you had done did not have a numeric result but you need to repeat it anyways.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/248394 ; is a prior post on why the herpes igm is a flawed test and shouldn't be done too.
at this point , odds are that you don't have hsv2 unless you were only tested with the igm the first time you were tested prior to this partner or not enough time had passed before testing from your prior partner. How long after your last partner had you had your prior hsv testing done?
Your provider can purchase a terrific testing booklet for updating their herpes testing knowledge from asha for under $3. http://www.ashastdwebstore.org/herpes-testing-toolkit.html I highly recommend that they invest in several copies of it for their clinic.
grace