HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG test

[alyx_vance]

Hi,

Regarding the HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG test: https://www.****.com

(1) Do you recommend this test to determine if one has been infected with HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 if it has been over four weeks of having intercourse with someone who is infected with HSV-2.

(2) Is the "Physician interpretation of results" ($40) really necessary? If one chooses not to take the results to their docter, would you be able to help interpret the results?

Thanks for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

I'm glad you FINALLY get the correct test done and now finally have the answers you were hoping for :)

Congrats!!!

grace

[maya111]

Congrats on testing neg.  ;) yeah that is so sad doctors are so busy rushing they cant double check prescriptions/tests/diagnosis etc...if your doctor would have double checked what she ordered you wouldnt have gone though that much(less pokes-i hate getting poked and im a phlebotomist) ;( i hate neglant doctors they can leave themselves open to lawsuits.i had a qwack doc like yours i spewed about it on my blog lol (long story but i had a low positive of 1.79 over 5 months ago w/no symptoms and she didnt even bother to tell me about conformation testing or know anyhting about false positives or western blot's etc..but i still have to get a western blot) im pre med and i found at least 20 cases on here and other websites like ours w false positive problems.like this one poor guy http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/677536?personal_page_id=184173 he tested positive 3 times and did a western blot and he was negative. like i dont understand y doctors dont take the time to research and fully inform their patients thats waht you pay money for lol urgh i also was talking to dr gilber at the montifore medical center in manhattan(bronx) ny because i was going to go there for a bio kit rapid assy (even longer story in my blog and more frustration lol but no one in michigan does conformation testing w/it or at all for that matter in michigan unless directly ordered from a doctor and most because you have to have "symptoms"in order to order it which is crazy because they say most people dont notice any symptoms so they say and others tell me you would feel it before you see it  (thats planned parenthood for you lol its all their fault im having all these problems-even more w admistration/records/testing-my doctor in other words lol) but he was telling me to have an hsv 2 immunoblot done instead of an alissa because some people test positive w one test and negative w/ the other because i asked him what someome does for testing like the guy that tested positive 3 times and was negative. he even told me that some poeple antibody leveles are always under 3.5 and not at 1.09 (the cut off) even though they were negative and could tell if they had an infection (testing w alissa) it would be over 3.5 if that makes sense lol but this is crazy i cant wait until i can stop worrying 2 ;( well hope tha helps

[alyx_vance]

Hi,

I just wanted to post an update and share this experience with everyone - hopefully it will help at least one person who is questioning their low positive HerpesSelect or other IgG HSV 2 test results.

After some effort, I was able to get the Western Blot (for HSV) test thru my health care provider. As others have mentioned in their posts, you really have to be diligent with your health care provider about ordering the right test.  I didn't want to assume that my Ob Gyn was aware of the Western Blot, so I emailed her all the research I found and a link to the Quest Western Blot HSV test. Lucky for me, she was more than happy to order the test.

I went to the lab and made the mistake of assuming the lab techs were going to follow my doctor's instructions on what test to reference on their forms. I became suspicious when it took the front desk receptionist awhile to find the correct test in her big book of test numbers. I pointed out the instructions that the doctor left, but she said the lab techs rarely read the doctor’s instructions – confused by her response, I just gave her the test name. I went ahead and trusted that she wrote down the correct test number (I should have brought the Quest number with me to compare against what she wrote down.) After the lab techs called me in to get my blood drawn, there, again, was more confusion about this test. The lab techs discussed the test amongst themselves and after a couple minutes, decided they were clear on what to do.

That night, I emailed my doctor and let her know what I experienced at the lab and to confirm the test that was referenced by the lab techs. I never received a response from her. I figured by her lack of her response, she confirmed that the test was correct and decided not to reply to my email.

About a week and a half later, I received an email from my health care provider stating that my test results were ready. I checked the results online and noticed that it was necessary to consult the report that the outside lab sent (I figured this was the University of Washington virology lab.) I emailed my doctor asking her to contact me after she had a chance to review the results. She replied stating that she would get in touch with me after she reviewed the results. I didn’t want to wait and decided to call the University of Washington virology lab just to see if they ever received my specimen. (They can only tell you whether or not they’ve received your specimen, but may not discuss test results over the phone. No real surprise.) They said that they hadn’t received my test results. I decided to wait it out and hope that a different IgG test was ordered, just so I could have another test to compare against my first one (that I paid for out-of-pocket).

A few days passed and I received a call from my doctor - she left a voicemail message stating that she was going to email me. I wasn't sure what to think, but I figured, if she didn't need to wait to talk to me, then maybe the news was good…

I checked my email and surprise, surprise; my doctor stated that the lab made a mistake and they ordered the HIV Western Blot! She was apologetic and shared the news that I was HIV negative. Well, that is good news, but not the good news I was waiting for. I didn't want to do the whole 'I told you so' routine and decided that it was probably uncommon that this test is requested by patients - hopefully she'll learn from the experience. She stated that she had very precise instructions ready for me to pick up before going to the lab a second time. When I went in, one of the nurses was kind enough to walk over to the lab with me so that they got it right this time around. They did.

I just received my results (I asked my doctor to mail them to me). Good news is that I'm negative for HSV 2 antibodies, but positive for HSV 1 antibodies...just the opposite of the HerpeSelect HSV 1 and 2 IgG type-specific tests (see above results)! When I spoke to the nurse on the phone, she said that HSV 1 was very common and most people aren't aware they have it. I was aware of this from the research I had done, but I'm just wondering if I should do an HSV 1 confirmatory test. I don't believe I've ever had a cold sore in my life, but maybe I'm asymptomatic...or maybe I should go with my first results. What would you all do?

I just wanted to say thanks again to Grace for providing feedback / answering my questions. This last year was really rough...the whole what-if game I played out over and over again in my head really took its toll. For anyone out there wondering if they should follow thru with a confirmatory test for HSV 2 if you received a low positive on a HSV 2 IgG test, do it! It may take you more effort that I went thru, but the mental relief is worth it...regardless of the results.

Good luck and take care!

[alyx_vance]

HealthCheckUSA states on their general FAQs: "Your results will be available for viewing within 48-72 hours." - maybe that doesn't apply to all tests. Also, I was not notified that my results were ready - I just logged in two days after my blood was drawn and discovered the results yesterday. I went back and looked at the date the results were recorded - it was actually four days after my blood was drawn (still over 72 hours).

[gracefromHHP]

It took 5 days to get your results? I thought part of their selling point was results in 48 hours or less? hmmmm...  

Yes it does suck that some providers still think - no obvious lesions, no reason to test but it's still the 'official' way of thinking :(    A 2.07 result is well worth confirming.  The best way to get the WB would be thru your provider.  She can contact the folks who market the herpeselect for more info on why it needs confirmed - they usually are very good about that.

grace

[alyx_vance]

Thanks so much Grace.

I've been searching the site and found some very interesting and helpful articles about retesting (confirming) with the WB after the HerpesSelect HSV 1/2 IgG test. I'd rather not contact my doctor as I pursue the WB test - is that going to be possible or will they have to request/order the test? The last time I emailed my ObGyn she replied that since I didn't have any visible lesions, I likely was not infected...and she said doctors (at least thru my provider) will not order a Herpes test just because a patient is concerned...I guess if I pay, she might - ?? This is absolutely ridiculous considering the statistics, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you :-)

Just an FYI (in case it is helpful to others) - I ordered the HerpesSelect HSV 1/2 IgG test thru HealthCheckUSA and went to a local LabCorp clinic. It took five days to receive my results (online). Total cost was $107 (with a $5 discount).

On a side note, I just want you to know that I think it's wonderful that you and others are volunteering your time on this site - most of your posts are very clear, helfpul and reassuring. And thank you for responding so quickly!

[gracefromHHP]

we don't need the scale anyways - it's a test we are very familar with :)

Yes indeed you should pursue the WB to confirm your low positive hsv2 igg. Better to err on the side of caution than to assume you have it if you don't.

grace

[alyx_vance]

the web site is cutting off everything between Negative and 1.09. it's just the scale that is listed on the results.

[alyx_vance]

sorry, the last part of my results listing should read:

Both list the following scale:
Negative 1.09

[alyx_vance]

Hi,

I got my HerpeSelect HSV 1 and 2 IgG test results back and would appreciate some advice:

------------------------------------------------
Type: HSV 2 IgG
Description: Type Spec163153
Result: 2.07
Range: 0.00-0.90
Units: index

Type: HSV 1 IgG
Description: Type Spec164899
Result: <0.91
Range: 0.00-0.90
Units: index

Both list the following:
Negative 1.09
------------------------------------------------

The HSV 2 IgG was flagged and in red - I'm freaking a bit :(

I haven't been with anyone since last December 2007 (primarily due to my anxiety about this). Again, my ex-boyfriend (who was the last person I was with) has HSV 2, but did not have any symptoms when we were together. I haven't had any "typical" HSV 2 symptoms (e.g., painful sores)...I've never had painful sores, but I've always had razor burn / bikini bumps ever since I can remember, but they've never been painful, but then I wonder if I just have a high pain threshhold. I've read often that symptoms almost always go unnoticed and just wonder if this is the case with me.

I've read that results < 3 are suspect. But I'm concerned since it has been quite a while since exposure...enough time for the antibodies to develop.

So, would you recommend a re-test, using a different test, like the Western Blot? And since so much time has past, would it even matter whether or not I wait awhile?

Any advice/suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

The herpes select will be fine ( and cheapest ).

grace

[alyx_vance]

Hi Grace,

I am about to order a test (note i've never been tested before and it has been well over six months since being with my ex-BF who has HSV-2) and am wondering which you would recommend - the Western Blot or the HerpeSelect HSV 1 and 2 IgG test.

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

yes 4 months is long enough to wait and then get tested :)

grace

[alyx_vance]

Thanks Grace and waringblender. Sorry, typo in post - four months, not weeks. No blisters...just wanted to be safe and get tested.

[gracefromHHP]

I don't recommend getting tested just 1 month post possible exposure.  If it's positive then it's helpful but if it's negative then you just need to repeat the blood test again anyways in a few months. Wait until at least  3 months has passed before getting a blood test. If you should notice any obvious signs in the genital area before then - see your provider within 24-48 hours of their appearance for a lesion culture and typing - preferably pcr.

As waring said - no need to pay for the interpretation - we can help you with the herpes results here.

grace

[waringblender]

1) Yes; 2) no and yes..