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Negative HSV test due to a "local" infection?

I've had Herpes-like symptoms recurring in my genital area for over 1,5 years after an sexual encounter. So i have had 3 blood tests done during this time: first after 8 weeks from possible exposure, second after 11 months from possible exposure, and last of them was done last month, 1,5 years ater possible exposure. The type on the test performed to my understading was ELISA that didn't differentiate between HSV1 and HSV2. And that didn't really matter because the result was negative everytime, meaning - due to the general guidance, that i am HSV-negative altogether. Right?

But: the infectious disease specialist i saw, said that if the infection is local, the body doesn't produce antibodies to be detected in a blood test. That is somewhat confusing, because i thought that most of the herpes infections are "local" and not systemic? If my doctor is right, that would mean that all the general info about herpes blood tests and their accuracy in diagnosing herpes, oral or genital, was wrong or at least very misleading.

So, is it really so? Of course i asked my doctor this : Isn't herpes almost always local and not systemic, meaning it presents itself as a sore or a blister on lips or genitals? And why are antibody tests then used and recommended fo diagnosing that type of HSV-infections if the body isn't really likely to produce antibodies to be detected?

Answer was that the body produces antibodies to be detected in blood mostly if there is, for example, mouth full of blisters - but not if there is, for example, one blister on a lip?

This goes against pretty much everything i've read about diagnosing herpes via blood tests and the reliability of them in doing so.

I understand that false positives and false negatives do happen but do they really happen that way? And if they do, wouldn't that mean that most of the negative blood tests for HSV (when there is a reason to believe in a possibility of being infected) were actually false negatives, if it really is that Unusual for the antibodies to be produced in a way that could be detected in a blood test if the infection (like most of the HSV-infections?) is local?
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Avatar universal
Did you take any vaccine in the last 6 months?
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Avatar universal
I'm not sure if i'm allowed to answer that, but no, i don't have any update. But i let you know if anything changes in my situation, so no need to keep asking it. I don't know how long it is going to take for anything to change though. Whether it took a month or a year, i try to remember to tell about it here as it happens. Take care.
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Avatar universal
Do you have any update ?
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Avatar universal
had some research What Affects the blood work test:

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

    * Taking medicines, such as hydralazine, phenylbutazone, birth control pills, anticonvulsants (such as phenytoin), methotrexate, aminophenazone, asparaginase, or corticosteroids.
    * Having cancer treatments, both radiation and chemotherapy.
    * Receiving a blood transfusion in the past 6 months.
    * Getting vaccinations (immunizations), especially vaccinations with repeat (booster) doses, in the past 6 months.
    * Using alcohol or illegal drugs.
    * Having a radioactive scan in the past 3 days.
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Avatar universal
Be my guest - but it's not me who has kept this thread so active. I've just answered politely to the questions that have been asked from me. And i just figured that it would be best to give the most accurate description of the situation. I haven't really asked that kind of questions like you say: "if this is happening does this mean this is herpes" - you just mix me up with william28 whose questions I've been answering. And i clearly made it known that i acknowledge that pictures aren't allowed here. The picture comment was just meant to illustrate that i'm confident about THE rash recurring immediately after irritation.

You just happened to have a pre-attitude to my posts for whatever reason and you answer based on that - instead of really considering what i say.

So what have i mainly done:

1. Presented my situation and the original question that i haven't ever seen asked before

2. Updated my situation (the tests that we're taken)

3. Asked some additional questions about the tests etc. (which to my understanding is the function of this board)

An then: 4. Answered questions that have been asked from me. Sometimes i wouldn't even have been so keen on answering williams' questions but i think it would be unpolite not to answer.

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101028 tn?1419603004
no pictures here.

I've already told you several times now that this isn't likely to be herpes related at all.

I'm going to have to limit your posts at this point. If you get a + herpes lesion culture then by all means post and if you want to post a general update to your situation after the visit to the dermatologist that too would be terrific but continuing to post "if I did this" or "if this is happening does this mean it's herpes" type posts will be reported to the moderators. really nothing more we can help you with your multiple negative tests and we have to limit posting at some point.
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