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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?
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?
I am not very good with HPV. We have a HPV forum here. Don't worry about william. He likes asking those questions and they have no bearing on our discussion.
PCR looks for DNA/RNA as long as some of its there its going to find it. The amount of cells need not be the same. Its like the cutlure needs to be grown if the virus is dead due to heat or whatever during transport the culture will fail. PCR doesn't need the virus to be a live just needs it to be present.
PCR looks for DNA/RNA as long as some of its there its going to find it. The amount of cells need not be the same. Its like the cutlure needs to be grown if the virus is dead due to heat or whatever during transport the culture will fail. PCR doesn't need the virus to be a live just needs it to be present.
Well, herpes hasn't been completely ruled out considering the possibility of having false negative blood tests. The symptoms seem to be like those of herpes - of course i very much would like it to be something else. But the previous question was about my HPV PCR-test, not herpes.
Talking of PCR tests, one thing came to my mind that's not directly related to herpes but to my case: if there weren't enough cells in the HSV-antigen test specimen, then is it likely that there was enough of them in the swab for my HPV-PCR test assuming that the amount of the cells was same?
I have the same but on my both legs and buttock and I have many blood test and came back negative...
but the problem too is : some ppl got negative on blood test for hsv1 and they had cold sore on lips before.. so thats mean we may be have it but with false negative... but can we got false negative more then 4 times over more than 1 year...
Is that possible?
Thank you.
but the problem too is : some ppl got negative on blood test for hsv1 and they had cold sore on lips before.. so thats mean we may be have it but with false negative... but can we got false negative more then 4 times over more than 1 year...
Is that possible?
Thank you.
Well the rash is almost gone but i still feel mild nerve sensations somewhere in my penis, urinary tract and the joint behind the knee.
It's weird how those sensations sometimes go all the way to the shin and occasionally i even feel mild tingling in my toe and heel. Everything happens mostly in the leg on the same side of my body where the rash is located on my penis but sometimes the sensations occur in the other leg also.
I've also had some urinary problems which, together with penile lesions and joint symptoms, led me to suspect reactive arthritis which has now been pretty much ruled out.
But now i've started to think about the possibility of these symptoms (genital rash and leg sensations) being genital psoriasis although i'm not of course qualified to make self-diagnoses. But i guess that self-diagnosis is better than no diagnosis? :/ The rash has an appearence that could be classified as psoriasis, due to it being more like a reddened area that consists of multiple bumps that are somewhat scaly. But i think they're not separate bumps per se. Although the appearence is somewhat scaly, the rash isn't flaky of dry - due to the moist environment? But the leg sensations are suspicious, since there hasn't been any swelling or restricted movement in my legs - just moderate to mild sensations. So i don't know if that would classify as psoriatic arthritis.
To some degree, mechanical irritation from masturbation seems to affect the rash flaring up. And again, that could be both: herpes or psoriasis.
It's weird how those sensations sometimes go all the way to the shin and occasionally i even feel mild tingling in my toe and heel. Everything happens mostly in the leg on the same side of my body where the rash is located on my penis but sometimes the sensations occur in the other leg also.
I've also had some urinary problems which, together with penile lesions and joint symptoms, led me to suspect reactive arthritis which has now been pretty much ruled out.
But now i've started to think about the possibility of these symptoms (genital rash and leg sensations) being genital psoriasis although i'm not of course qualified to make self-diagnoses. But i guess that self-diagnosis is better than no diagnosis? :/ The rash has an appearence that could be classified as psoriasis, due to it being more like a reddened area that consists of multiple bumps that are somewhat scaly. But i think they're not separate bumps per se. Although the appearence is somewhat scaly, the rash isn't flaky of dry - due to the moist environment? But the leg sensations are suspicious, since there hasn't been any swelling or restricted movement in my legs - just moderate to mild sensations. So i don't know if that would classify as psoriatic arthritis.
To some degree, mechanical irritation from masturbation seems to affect the rash flaring up. And again, that could be both: herpes or psoriasis.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
