Meaning of a positive test outcome

I posted before, but now have new, related questions.

My lady friend was diagnosed as having Herpes via a swab test. I'd like to know whether I have it. If I do, I'd like to know whether I got it from her or she gave it to me. Both situations are unlikely, but it had to come from somewhere.
I said this on my post and was advised to get a blood test, which I'm doing. I should have the results shortly. By the way, I think of having Herpes as either having symptoms, or being capable of infecting someone else, or both. By the way, I have no symptoms.

When I asked for the blood test, my doctor told me the test was unlikely to be conclusive. He said, 50% of adults come up positive for the antibodies and having antibodies is not the same as having herpes. I assume he meant that many showing positive would not be in danger of an outbreak or infecting anyone else. By the way, after speaking with him, I saw the 50% figure for adults having antibodies on WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/herpes-tests) --see para "Anti Body Tests". I've seen a 20% figure on this site for, I believe, the number of adults infected with herpes.

Perhaps you can comment on the 50% and the 20% figures--i.e., do you agree with them ? Do they represent different things (antibody presence vs. infections) ? I recognize antibodies arise because there's been contact with the virus, but does does antibody presence necessarily mean the virus presence has risen to the level of an "infection" ? Aren't antibodies sometimes successful in killing off the virus ?

This is all pretty confusing to me. Please help with these questions if you can.

Thanks,

G

[gracefromHHP]

the article did not specify hsv1 and/or hsv2 as the source of the half of adults have antibodies in that article. that's probably what is confusing you.

At this point you need to just wait for your blood test results. From what your provider said I'm wondering if they even ordered the type specific test. I guess we'll see when you post your results - ie hsv1 igg 4. 5 and hsv2 igg . 34 or whatever they are.

Your partner can also get a blood test to try to see if this is a newly acquired infection or not for her. The window for this can be as little as 2 weeks so if it's been that long since she started with symptoms even that might not be helpful for you two.

If you read our posting tips we ask that folks just keep adding to their original thread. saves us the time of having to go back and find it and read thru it.  If you can just keep adding to this thread now no matter what the question it would be much appreciated - thanks!

grace

[gene10]

Grace, thanks.

You're right. The article didn't specify. But it was under the heading of "Genital Herpes". It's misleading if the 50% included oral hsv1/2, but it's possible. In that case I would have expected the % to be even higher. Very confusing.

Her symptoms appeared just over 3 weeks ago, so it's probably too late. Her doctor didn't advise a blood test because the treatment wouldn't change. We didn't know enough until later to begin asking about it.

I think my doctor said the test I'm getting is HerpesSelect Elisa. Hope that's a good one.

About antibodies-- what I'm taking away is they protect the infected person from having outbreaks himself but not from being contagious ?

Thanks again.

G

[gene10]

I received my test results and I'd like your interpretation. There are no numbers labeled igg. I was told I am negative.

The test was Herpes Select Type specific AB. Simplex 1 and Simplex 2. Negative cut-off below 0.9. Done by Quest Diagnostics.

The numbers and labels I was given are:
0.16 Type 1
0.08 Type 2.

Hope this is meaningful. What can you tell me ?

Thanks,

G

[gracefromHHP]

you are negative for hsv1 and hsv2 both :)

congrats!!

grace

[gene10]

From earlier posts, I thought I needed igg values to be sure.

Do you think type 1 and type 2 are synonomous with igg1 and igg2 ?

Sorry to be so nervous about this.

Thanks,

G

[gracefromHHP]

the herpeselect is only an igg blood test for herpes.

grace