I am looking for some answers

[cul8r]

I am a 43 year old woman who had been celibate since 1992.  I recently met a man from Canada we had protected sex in april.  In June we had unprotected sex from June 6th to June 9th.  At that time he told me he had been treated for Hepatitis C with interferon.  That freaked me out, so I went to my doctor and had a battery of tests.  HIV, Hepatitis A,B & C and HSV-1 HSV-2.  I have always had cold sore so I was prepared for getting a postitive result on the HSV-1 test, what really thru me for a loop was a positive result on the HSV-2 test.  The HIV and Hepatitis tests came be non reactive. I had the blood drawn on June 19th.   The results for my HSV-1 and 2 are as follows

HSV 1 IGG Herpeselect AB  0.00-0.89 index   Interpretation: Positive
HSV 2 IGG Herpeselect AB 0.00-0.89 index    Interpretation: Positive

HSV IgM AB Screen:  Not Detected
HSV IgM AB Titer :  <1:10

I have no idea how to take these results.  My doctor did a lousy job trying to explain anything and I was so shocked that I don't think I heard anything he said after that.  Can anyone shed light on this for me?  I have never had any symptoms or "outbreaks" that is what makes this so surreal for me.  I haven't had a cold sore in a few years either.I am so confused I don't know what to do.  

Should I assume that I have had the HSV-2 and the HSV-1 for the same amount of time since they have the same range index?

Do I need to tell my partner I have genitial herpes?

Could I have gotten HSV-2 from this new man even though it was only 10 days afterwards that I had the bloodtest?

[gracefromHHP]

can you please look at your herpes results again. You actually didn't post the numeric value.  I don't need the range values posted or anything else - I need the actual numeric result .

thanks!

grace

[cul8r]

There are 3 columns on this one says in range which is blank.  The other says out of Range and then there is reference range.

HSV 1 IGG Herpeselect AB  in range blank
                                          out of range 3.5 H
                                           reference range 0.00-0.89

HSV 2 IGG Herpeselect AB in range blank
                                          out of range >5.00H
                                          reference range 0.00-0.89

Is this what you are looking for?  Now I am really scared.

[waringblender]

You are positive for both.

[cul8r]

Should I be concerned with those numbers?  Is this a new infection?  or something I have had?

[waringblender]

If the blood test was 10 days after the encounter(s), then you had HSV before you knew him. The blood test wouldn't have been positive after only 10 days. I would tell the guy your test results were positive. It's too soon to tell on a blood test for him, but tell him to watch for genital symptoms, and if he gets a blood test now, it will tell him if he was infected prior to meeting you. If his test is negative, he needs another test in 3 months.

[cul8r]

That seems like such a high number >5.0 How could I have HSV-2 and no symptoms with a number that high?  

[waringblender]

Most people with HSV don't have symptoms they recognize as herpes. They are either very vague symptoms, like itching and "ingrown hairs," or whatnot, or they don't have symptoms at all. That's the majority of people, believe it or not.

So you are in the norm.

Keep in mind that, depending on your sexual history, you may have had this for a long time. It's obviously not caused you any medical problems or other kinds of problems, so now what you need to do is read up on herpes and make sure you know how to protect future sexual partners if your partners are negative. I would recommend any future sexual partners you have be tested for both types of HSV (as well as all other STDs) so that you will both know how to proceed with protection, if you need to.

The suppressive medication will go a long way towards protecting your partners.

[waringblender]

Sorry - the number is just the lab value from the specific test that was given. Anything over 3.5 is considered positive. So you are well into the positive range. That's all it means. It doesn't really tell you anything about the "severity" of your symptoms or how long you've had it.

[waringblender]

Sorry, I think I misinterpreted your results. I don't think the 5 and the 3.5 are your numeric results are they? I'm thinking those are the upper limit ranges.

So you need someone else to help you here. Do you have the actual scores for the 2 tests. That is what you need to post here. The ranges don't help.

SORRY !!!  :(

Please flag grace for your post so she knows I messed up. :(  Didn't mean to scare you.

[gracefromHHP]

No you interpreted them correct waring - both hsv1 ( 3.5 ) and hsv2 ( >5 ) are +.  

As waring already said - your partner needs tested to see what his status is and go from there.

grace

[waringblender]

Grace, so they never give you an actual number over 3.5 on type 1 and 5.0 on type 2? They just say "out of range?"

[gracefromHHP]

out of range just means positive.  

many labs won't report anything over 5 since it's irrevelant over that number anyways.

grace

[cul8r]

Thank you for that information.  Should I definitely go on the suppressive medication, even though I've never had symptoms?  Also, I don't have health insurance or a prescription plan any suggestions or ideas?  Thanks again.

[gracefromHHP]

No reason to go on suppressive therapy unless you want to.  You aren't having painful symptoms so it's up to you and your partner. if he's hsv2+ also I certainly wouldn't bother.

The herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com is a terrific resource to learn more at.

grace