Hi Grace, quick HSV-1 Question

Grace or anyone that knows really,
When you say that even the best blood test will miss 1 out of 10 hsv-1 infections does that mean it always will? I am almost positive I had cold sores as a child as they would appear in the same spot on the side of my lips, but have had 5 total herpeselect tests in the past 2 years and it has never been positive for type 1. The value is always around .5 or so. Does that mean I will never test positive for it even know I am pretty sure I do have it? Is this possible? Thanks for any insight

[gracefromHHP]

Yes some folks will never test + on the igg blood test but it's a very low percentage of folks.  I'd assume that if you can recall a history of cold sores then indeed you do have hsv1 orally no matter what your blood tests tell you.  Should you have bad enough luck to get another cold sore at any point - you can get it cultured to confirm hsv1 if it really matters to you.

I haven't had a cold sore myself in at least 20 years and the herpes blood test I had missed it too. I know I have hsv1 though unless I come from a long line of people who just get "things" on their lips ( ok so my mom swears she doesn't have oral herpes and never had a cold sore - she got fever blisters and in her mind there's a difference...lol..I keep telling her that this will reflect in the choice of nursing home I chose for her one day...he he he ).  

grace

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

ok thanks for the quick response,
it really doesn't matter whether or not I have type 1 or not I was wondering if my exposure to it was causing the HSV-2 readings to take longer to turn positive. I read that exposure to type 1 in the past could cause a positive type 2 reading to take longer than if you never had either. Seems to me I should just assume that it was HSV-1 and wait a little longer before testing again.

[gracefromHHP]

You've had 5 herpes blood tests in 2 years. Isn't it time to move on?  Actually it was time to move on 1 1/2 years ago if this is all still from the same encounter 2 years ago.

grace