Herpes test Accuracy

Hello,

I am a generally healthy hetrosexual man who was tested for all STD's at a UC Hospital prior to having a sexual relationship with a woman.  All my test results were negative.  The HERPES SIMPLEX-1 Ab, IgG   Index was 0.15.  The HERPES SIMPLEX-2 Ab, IgG Index was 0.06.  The female claimed to have also had similar tests performed with negative results.

Eight days after having unprotected sex I noticed a small papule on the tip of my penis.  The papule was not painful and did not form a scab.  Both my Dermatologist and my Primary Care Physician diagnosed the papule as non-herpes related.  I stopped having sex. I waited 16 weeks and then had the testing for STD's repeated.  All my test results were again negative.  The HERPES SIMPLEX-1 Ab, IgG   Index was 0.38.  The HERPES SIMPLEX-2 Ab, IgG Index was 0.45.

I am concerned about the increase from 0.06 to 0.45 for the HERPES SIMPLEX-2 Ab, IgG Index.  Is this nine-fold ioncrease significant?  What are the chances that I aquired HSV 2, but the antibodies haven't reached detectable positive levels (>0.90) yet?

Should I be retested?  If so, how long should I wait?

Thank you
lawrence43

[Mistakeguy789]

The numbers don't mean anything a negative is a negative.  You will never score a 0.00 and the numbers will change from test to test even with the same blood.  It is never the same.  

Though I am not saying your results are a negative.  Just that the numbers don't matter and grace can tell you if its truly a negative or not.

[lawrence43]

My test results came back negative.  If the numbers are not significant, then I am relieved.

Thank you
Lawrence43

[Mistakeguy789]

You're welcome.  They aren't at all.  No one will score a 0.0.  I think that the reason most companies for the test started using <0.91 instead of the numerical values was because of questions like this.  Good luck and if you have questions feel free to visit us again.  We will keep the light on.

[lawrence43]

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the extremely important service you and ther other volunteers provide.  I am very new to this whole subject, and have at times been quite confused.  The information you have provided to me and others really helped to clear things up.  It permits me to make more informed decisions about my own health.  I am suprized by the lack of consistent (and sometimes conflicting) information I have obtained from the medical profession.
Thanks again,
lawrence43