My confirmatory testing story.

I had originally posted back in 2008 on this thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Dealing-with-uninformed-family-physicians-re-HSV2/show/619383?personal_page_id=2309089#post_3371267

To summarize that thread I tested twice in 2008 for hsv-2 via herpeselect igg at 1.35 and 1.63 with a positive reflex inhibition on the second test.  (I also tested positive for HSV1 - I had an outbreak a couple times when I was little, but asymptomatic since then to my recollection)   I was surprised at the HSV2 results because I had never had a symptom.

For a few reasons, some outlined in the thread, I wasn't able to get confirmatory testing with a western blot or bio kit at that time.  Till today I was not on any suppression therapy and had never had an outbreak.  My partner at the time was fully aware of the testing issues and we took some precautions.

Eventually, we broke up (for other reasons) and given my lack of any symptoms since 2008 I wanted to retest.  I tested again with herpeselect igg and the results came back at 1.72.  Given that the number was so similar to my tests from three years before I decided to get confirmatory testing with a western blot.  I contacted Westover heights clinic (via phone consultation) to discuss my medical history and determine if a WB was appropriate.  They felt that given the time between tests and similar numbers it would probably be worth it to get a WB.  However, the previously positive reflex result tempered the expectations.  It was very easy to work with them and I can't speak highly enough as to their professionalism, particularly given some problems quest had getting my sample to the University of Washington.  

It took about three weeks, but my Western Blot came back negative for HSV-2.  The best part of getting the test results back was achieving finality and certainty on the issue.  I had already come to terms with potentially having HSV2 and realized that the vast majority of the time it is not a big deal and nothing more than a minor skin condition.  The uncertainty of having it or not worked me up more than anything else.  Honestly, something only becomes a big deal when you make it a big deal.  The negative results were nice, but more than anything I was just happy to have a final result.

I tried to post an update to my above thread, but the discussion was closed.  I posted here to give an update and to add some additional beta to the discussion about low/false positives with IGG testing.  

My concluding thought is that you might have to be your own advocate at times, but given the modifications to the CDC guidelines and the low positive issue, it is worth the effort to get a WB.  If you are asymptomatic and have a low positive please spend the time and money to get a WB.

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  ; if you can post a link in this post to this one, it would be greatly appreciated :)

glad you finally got answers after all this time :)  

grace

[wshift]

is there a certain test number wb puts out? or do i simply ask my doctor to order it?

[gracefromHHP]

the wb only returns with + or -.