Aa
Is my HSV-1 result false positive
I am a 30+ male and I had protected sex with a couple of upscale escorts (females) on 5/30 and 6/12. But I received an unprotected fellatio on the second encounter. I do not have any symptoms but I got nervous about my unprotected fellatio, so got tested for several STDs on 07/06.
Results show HSV-1 positive: “HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC EN AB HERPESELECT HSV 1 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB: 2.96h ” .
This is my first STD testing, so not sure if I had HSV1 earlier or not. I am married for 4 years and wife and I have never had any sexual relationship with anyone else before or after the marriage until my recent experience described above.
1) The doctor who reviewed my results believe that my HSV-1 results are not because of my recent encounters as it is too soon to become detectable. He believes I contracted the virus much before. I don’t have prior tests to prove him otherwise. Any opinion on this?
2) Could my HSV-1 results be false positive? Should I get any other test such as Western Bolt to confirm? As I mentioned earlier, I do not any symptoms and never in the past had any cold sores. I get canker sores once or twice a year due to stress which goes away in a week or so.
3) Could I possibly have contracted other STDs as well such as HSV-2 / HIV. How long should I wait to get tested again to confirm?
4) One night after the above after the experience but before I got tested, I had protected sex and had kissed my wife . Have I infected my wife – should I ask her to get tested as well? Which test and when should she get tested.
5) I suppose, until all the tests are done, I should not involve in any intimate contact with my wife. Better to avoid even kissing? I don’t know how to break the news to her…I may have to divorce her in her interest as we don’t have any kids yet and it will only get complicated with me due to this HSV1 situation
Results show HSV-1 positive: “HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC EN AB HERPESELECT HSV 1 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB: 2.96h ” .
This is my first STD testing, so not sure if I had HSV1 earlier or not. I am married for 4 years and wife and I have never had any sexual relationship with anyone else before or after the marriage until my recent experience described above.
1) The doctor who reviewed my results believe that my HSV-1 results are not because of my recent encounters as it is too soon to become detectable. He believes I contracted the virus much before. I don’t have prior tests to prove him otherwise. Any opinion on this?
2) Could my HSV-1 results be false positive? Should I get any other test such as Western Bolt to confirm? As I mentioned earlier, I do not any symptoms and never in the past had any cold sores. I get canker sores once or twice a year due to stress which goes away in a week or so.
3) Could I possibly have contracted other STDs as well such as HSV-2 / HIV. How long should I wait to get tested again to confirm?
4) One night after the above after the experience but before I got tested, I had protected sex and had kissed my wife . Have I infected my wife – should I ask her to get tested as well? Which test and when should she get tested.
5) I suppose, until all the tests are done, I should not involve in any intimate contact with my wife. Better to avoid even kissing? I don’t know how to break the news to her…I may have to divorce her in her interest as we don’t have any kids yet and it will only get complicated with me due to this HSV1 situation
Some people do build antibodies quickly. That being said you need to look at this a little differently. If you did just contract hsv1 you would have most assuredly had a very noticeable primary outbreak within a week of contracting it. Hsv1 of the genitals is not like hsv2. Asymptomatic hsv1 is not very common at all. If you do have hsv1 I am sure you have had it for a long time. That also means you are really immune to getting hsv1 anywhere else on the body.
The western blot is not perfect for hsv1 but it is better than the igg tests.
Most of the adult population has hsv1. It's not evil..it's extremely common. You have a food chance your wife (just like you) has hsv1. It's not even considered an std.
You need not worry so much about hsv1..really
One more thing. Hsv1 when on the genitals has fewer outbreaks and sheds far less than hsv2. It really isn't all that potent when it does shed and genital to genital transition is not that common.
I do understand your anxiety over this and I appreciate you wanting to protect your wife. In my opinion you came out of your exposure the exact same way you went in.your lack of symptoms for genital hsv1 is a great indicator of this.
The western blot is not perfect for hsv1 but it is better than the igg tests.
Most of the adult population has hsv1. It's not evil..it's extremely common. You have a food chance your wife (just like you) has hsv1. It's not even considered an std.
You need not worry so much about hsv1..really
One more thing. Hsv1 when on the genitals has fewer outbreaks and sheds far less than hsv2. It really isn't all that potent when it does shed and genital to genital transition is not that common.
I do understand your anxiety over this and I appreciate you wanting to protect your wife. In my opinion you came out of your exposure the exact same way you went in.your lack of symptoms for genital hsv1 is a great indicator of this.
Your positive hsv1 test does fall into the low positive range. Getting a western blot is the best confirmation test available.
That being said I agree with your Dr in that the results being positive would be to soon after these exposures. It is clear that if you indeed have hsv1 you contracted it long before this exposure. Most assuredly this is an old oral infection from your youth. It is also common to not get any cold sores after the first few. I would bet my bottom dollar you did not get hsv1 from these oral sex exposures. Hsv1 newly acquired genital infections usually have a pretty severe primary outbreak and your chances of contracting hsv1 when no cold sores are present almost zero.
Except the western blot test I wouldn't retest for anything. You had zero risk of hiv. The only thing you were at risk of and it's very low risk was gonnerhia or ngu from the oral sex. You already tested and those results are accurate anytime after a few days.
I wouldn't stop sexual activities with your wife as it is clear you came out of this the same way you went in.
I hope this helps
That being said I agree with your Dr in that the results being positive would be to soon after these exposures. It is clear that if you indeed have hsv1 you contracted it long before this exposure. Most assuredly this is an old oral infection from your youth. It is also common to not get any cold sores after the first few. I would bet my bottom dollar you did not get hsv1 from these oral sex exposures. Hsv1 newly acquired genital infections usually have a pretty severe primary outbreak and your chances of contracting hsv1 when no cold sores are present almost zero.
Except the western blot test I wouldn't retest for anything. You had zero risk of hiv. The only thing you were at risk of and it's very low risk was gonnerhia or ngu from the oral sex. You already tested and those results are accurate anytime after a few days.
I wouldn't stop sexual activities with your wife as it is clear you came out of this the same way you went in.
I hope this helps
1 Comments
Thank you very much for your prompt response. I got the 10 tests listed here: https://www.stdcheck.com/std-test-pricing.php and that does not include NGU. I will get that tested separately, in case western blot does not test it. That same page interestingly mentions that "free doctor consultation if any test is positive except the HSV-1". I am not sure if it is because they think hsv1 is routinely false positive or it is not a serious condition.
Apparently, Western blot typically clears up false positive of hsv-2 and not hsv-1. I am going to test nevertheless. I am at least less guilty now to know that I did not contract hsv1 recently but it existed in me for long time. That does not make it any less evil, just that I can mentally be at peace and gives me the courage to fight the inevetible and also to break the news to wife. I suppose my wife will also need to get tested even though we always had protected sex with me so far. She is the best thing to have happened to me, so I can't let her go at any cost.
On second thought, most of the online material says anti bodies to have are developed in 2-6 weeks. That kind of correlates to my time lines and also explains the low score? Why do you think my doctor is correct about it not because of recent exposure.
Apparently, Western blot typically clears up false positive of hsv-2 and not hsv-1. I am going to test nevertheless. I am at least less guilty now to know that I did not contract hsv1 recently but it existed in me for long time. That does not make it any less evil, just that I can mentally be at peace and gives me the courage to fight the inevetible and also to break the news to wife. I suppose my wife will also need to get tested even though we always had protected sex with me so far. She is the best thing to have happened to me, so I can't let her go at any cost.
On second thought, most of the online material says anti bodies to have are developed in 2-6 weeks. That kind of correlates to my time lines and also explains the low score? Why do you think my doctor is correct about it not because of recent exposure.
Visited doctor today and he is very certain it is not herpes. He is willing to refer me to an urologist if I need further reassurance. But he suspects it could be warts, but looking at the size and that these are not hurting, he is not sure. He asked me to monitor for few days before I contact any specialist. Quite relieved that it is not hsv. Thanks for the support
Those are normal and not hsv related. You have no chance of hiv aND you do not need to test for it. I understand if you do.
No hiv test will be conclusive at 6 days. The genitals 4 duo tests are conclusive at 28 dayso. Again no chance of hiv.
No hiv test will be conclusive at 6 days. The genitals 4 duo tests are conclusive at 28 dayso. Again no chance of hiv.
Thanks again for your inputs. A bit of development since yesterday. I notice very tiny 3 whitehead kind of spots on my general shaft under the foreskin. It does not hurt, feel sensitive or itchy. Its not red and nothing like what I see online. I don't even know if had these earlier coz I never inspected my general this closely. It could be mere sweat glands but every thing on/in my body feels different since my test report. I am visiting my PCP tomorrow and get professional help. Meanwhile, I read somewhere that if one had chicken pox earlier, those antibodies kind of show up in the hsv results. I did get chicken pox as a kid, so am really hoping my test results are incorrect. So many varying emotions in last 2 days. Thanks again for your time and effort in answering my questions.
(Sorry, still trying to get used to the interface of this portal. Not sure whether to "Answer" or "Comment")
Thanks 'feelingundone' very much for your prompt response. I got the 10 tests listed here: https://www.stdcheck.com/std-test-pricing.php and that does not include NGU. I will get that tested separately, in case western blot does not test it. That same page interestingly mentions that "free doctor consultation if any test is positive except the HSV-1". I am not sure if it is because they think hsv1 is routinely false positive or it is not a serious condition.
Apparently, Western blot typically clears up false positive of hsv-2 and not hsv-1. I am going to test nevertheless. I am at least less guilty now to know that I did not contract hsv1 recently but it existed in me for long time. That does not make it any less evil, just that I can mentally be at peace and gives me the courage to fight the inevetible and also to break the news to wife. I suppose my wife will also need to get tested even though we always had protected sex with me so far. She is the best thing to have happened to me, so I can't let her go at any cost.
On second thought, most of the online material says anti bodies to have are developed in 2-6 weeks. That kind of correlates to my time lines and also explains the low score? Why do you think my doctor is correct about it not because of recent exposure.
Thanks 'feelingundone' very much for your prompt response. I got the 10 tests listed here: https://www.stdcheck.com/std-test-pricing.php and that does not include NGU. I will get that tested separately, in case western blot does not test it. That same page interestingly mentions that "free doctor consultation if any test is positive except the HSV-1". I am not sure if it is because they think hsv1 is routinely false positive or it is not a serious condition.
Apparently, Western blot typically clears up false positive of hsv-2 and not hsv-1. I am going to test nevertheless. I am at least less guilty now to know that I did not contract hsv1 recently but it existed in me for long time. That does not make it any less evil, just that I can mentally be at peace and gives me the courage to fight the inevetible and also to break the news to wife. I suppose my wife will also need to get tested even though we always had protected sex with me so far. She is the best thing to have happened to me, so I can't let her go at any cost.
On second thought, most of the online material says anti bodies to have are developed in 2-6 weeks. That kind of correlates to my time lines and also explains the low score? Why do you think my doctor is correct about it not because of recent exposure.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
