Herpes- False Positive HSV 2

Hello all,

I have been diagnosed with genital herpes. I have had HSV 1 for over a year, but this August when I went to the doctor for my annual exam, I asked for everything test-wise. HSV 1 came out positive, but this year so did HSV 2.

The results:
IGG ANTIBODY
1. HSV 1: 374 IU/mL
2. HSV 2: 129 IU/mL

Ranges:
Negative: 120 IU/mL

All of the articles on this website have results like 1.1 or 3.4 but my result isn't in decimal form. Last years negative HSV 2 result was in decimal so maybe they changed something.
I just want to know the best way to handle this. I have traced back through all sexual partners, which is very few, and there is no past history of any HSV 2 results. I have never been exposed to the virus. I know people with it, but unless it can survive on a toilet seat, which most websites say is impossible, I didn't get it that way.
Is my result a low positive? What are the odds of this being wrong? Should I get a Western Blot? Is that test even available? All of the nurses at my doctor's office are just acting like I'm crazy or in denial. I still haven't even gotten a chance to discuss this with my actual doctor. I made an appointment with her for 12/2 but I'm meeting with a nurse practitioner tomorrow around 1:15. What should I ask?

Please Help.
-Natalie

[natalie845]

For some reason it cut off the rest of my ranges

It goes:

Negative: 120 IU/mL

[natalie845]

It just won't post it and I have no idea why, but basically anything over 120 is considered positive.

[stephl81]

Your body probably hasn’t produced enough anti-bodies to get a higher number. I know nothing about the numbers, but did get a blood test a few years ago (I was in denial even though I had actual sores) and was just told I was positive for HSV 2.  I have read it is recommended to get tested again in 3 months and if you get another positive, you can be sure you are at least a carrier. Have you had sores? It is possible to get exposed even if your partner has never had symptoms. If you have slept with 4 or 5 partners (with or without condoms) and your partners have slept with 4 or 5 people, and so on, you have been exposed. Its statistics. One in 4 or 5 people have HSV 2. Good Luck!!  

[natalie845]

No symptoms. Sorry for not posting anything about my sexual past, that's obviously important. Have had 4-5 partners, but since 2010 have only had one sexual partner. He had sex with someone else after we broke up this year, but I have talked to her and she has confirmed numerous times she did not test positive for HSV 2.
Can someone have HSV 2 orally? Can that then be transmitted by kissing?

[stephl81]

Yes, you can have HSV 2 orally and can have HSV 1 on the genitals. In my opinion, its basically the same virus, it just depends on where it "lives".  Although, from what I have read HSV 2 is the more aggressive virus casuing more severe outbreaks, but you can have it in the mouth, genitals or both that can be transmitted by kissing and/or oral sex.  Id say that there is a slight chance you have been exposed. Get tested in another 3 months just to be sure, pay attention to your body, use condoms and you'll be fine.  I wish I knew all this 10 years ago, but its not the end of the world.

[bobrope45]

First things first: how were you diagnosed with genital herpes? Through the blood test you mentioned?

[gracefromHHP]

Hopefully you read our read before posting post located under the important announcements tab to see that I don't recommend letting others interpret your test results.

are you in the US? I'm going to assume so. The test you had done is one we don't recommend having done. It has a very high false positive rate :(  At this point you'll need to seek out further testing to confirm your status. You'll need to make sure it's been at least 4 months since you last had sex to get the confirmatory testing done.

no, you aren't likely to  contract hsv2 orally from kissing either.

the hsv1 you knew you had, was that oral or genital?

grace

[natalie845]

I guess not technically diagnosed, just tested positive for it.

Yes through the antibody test through blood specimen. I am in the United States, are tests run differently everywhere else?

I have an appointment tomorrow morning and I'm hopefully clearly some of this up. I just don't understand, after doing just mild research I've found that this test has given many false positives. I just don't really understand how the nurses are telling me it's for sure.

Sorry for posting results, I'm new to the site and had no idea what to read. Saw a few posts listing results, thought it would be beneficial. I'm just worried.
So, like above mentioned...what's the best confirmatory test to take? I got the results particularly late and it's nearing 3 months since the test. I just want to do it soon. Should I try a different test?

Thanks for speedy responses. You guys are quite helpful.

[natalie845]

Excuse me Grace,
I didn't answer your question.

Yes, HSV 1 Oral...and I thought HSV 1 was only oral? Is that not just Herpes Simplex? I thought I knew what I was talking about but now I feel like I don't.

[natalie845]

Also,
I really want to understand why last year I had a decimal result like 0.9 and this year it was not. What is the translation here?

[gracefromHHP]

you are encouraged to post test results!! I can only guarantee my advice on interpreting them, no one else's.


it sounds like you had a different test done last year.  you can't compare the difference in results between the 2 tests especially since the test you had done this time was such a bad test :(

at this point repeat your hsv2 igg at a different lab to get better results.

you can have hsv1 either orally or genitally. if you tested + for it on a blood test previously and have never had any oral or genital symptoms that you can recall, odds are your hsv1 is oral.

keep asking questions!!!

[natalie845]

Okay, so, maybe I shouldn't get my doctor to handle the new test?

I just thought the Western Blot might be the best options, but if the antibody test is so unreliable, why should I use that as a secondary test?

Grace, how do my results fair in the grand scheme of things? Are these relatively low?

I basically posted this so you would respond :) Don't worry, I know you are well credited on the matter. I appreciate your help!

[gracefromHHP]

the WB is fine for confirming your status. It's considered the gold standard of herpes blood testing at this point.

the test you had has a very high false positive rate so really not too much I can add about your results. repeating them at this point is the best thing to do.  encourage your clinic to switch to ordering a different herpes test so they can best serve their patients.

[natalie845]

It just doesn't really make sense to me. I just got back from my appointment and they told me that this is what they have used for the last 8 years and it's conclusive. I took the exact same test at the exact same place. 5 days shy of 3 months later. What happens if these come back positive? Would you say that this is a complete confirmation or should I seek out further testing.

I just think it's crazy that I've read everywhere about how unreliable this test is but everyone at my doctors office thinks I'm crazy. She also suggested that it's possible that I acquired it nearly 3 YEARS AGO and have never tested positive. I am tested annually, always. How could that even be possible? She says that the disease could lie dormant and not show up on tests. What do you think?

WesternBlot was not offered and they had never heard of doing it for Herpes testing, only HIV. No one knew what a Biokit was either. Grace, are you in the US? Do you happen to know of places that offer either of these? Planned Parenthood maybe?

[natalie845]

Also, if you could answer this one question as well.

>>>Grace, how do my results fair in the grand scheme of things? Are these relatively low?

[natalie845]

Also, Grace, I'm still really baffled in the difference between tests with decimal results (last year) and tests in whole number form (this year). I asked my Nurse Prac. today and she was completely baffled, and literally had no explanation. The only reason I want to know is to know how the scale translates for this test. I just want to know if my 129 IU/mL was a low positive for HSV 2.

[gracefromHHP]

no PP doesn't offer the WB.  

your clinic needs to read the 2010 cdc herpes guildelines and update their herpes testing knowledge. the way they are currently doing things can result in malpractice suits if they tell someone has hsv2 because of a test that has a poor track record and they aren't confirming the low positive results.

The herpeselect, captia and WB are 98% accurate for hsv2. No test is ever 100%.

no, you wouldn't just now be testing + on the blood test for a hsv2 infection you contracted 3 years ago.

[natalie845]

After a lot of trouble, arguing and phone calls. I have finally gotten the OK to take a WesternBlot. Like several other posts on here, no one at my doctor's office had any idea that you could do one for HSV. They said that there was no such thing. Luckily, because of this website, I had the lab code. Will update as soon as I hear results.

[natalie845]

Just had a question for Grace.

After I get the WesternBlot results back, if the result is negative, should I stop testing and consider that 100% conclusive that I do not have Herpes 2? Or should I take another test?

[gracefromHHP]

if your Wb is negative, time to start dancing in the streets :)