Negative on IGG HSV1, but 3.7 value of IGG hsv2

Hi, I recently did a test of igg HSV1 and 2. First test borderline for HSV1, and positive for HSV2. Did a second test a month later, and found that I am negative for igg HSV1, but a positive at  3.7 value for IGG hsv2 (index revealed positive if more than 1.1 value). I am a little confused as to the cold sore on my lip that I;ve been having for over 10 yrs now (although for the past 2 yrs I experience no outbreak). My doctor said, that I don;t have cold sore (HSV1) and that could be from my chicken pox. However, she told me i have a "low positive" for HSV2 and that I should not worry. She said I am not 'contagious'. True? I have never experienced any outbreak in my genital area, and I do understand that one does not necessarily need to have outbreak in order to confirm that he or she has this virus type. To my relief, my last two partners  tested negative for type 2 and 1. I don;t know what to tell my future partner, and I don;t know what specific lab test my doctor used for my igg result. What exactly does a "low positive" mean anyway?

[yi3o8]

Low positive is under 5, but you could still have type 2 oral cold sores. It's hard to tell for certain, the only way to tell is if you get prevelant cold sores and know you're (even low) positive for type 2 and not type 1 - or - get a cold sore culture tested (PCR is the right method I think)

Good luck

[yi3o8]

Oh, I should clarify that I'm not an expert by any means, and low is mostly an opinion... generally around 3 is low for some doctors but some just say anything over .9-1.1 is positive and don't even mention low. Please read other posts about this where experts have answered

[gracefromHHP]

Even the best blood tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. If you have a history of cold sores, odds are they really are hsv1 and the blood test just isn't picking up on it. If you really need peace of mind, be seen within 48 hours of your next cold sore for a lesion culture and typing.

I can best help you if you post your actual hsv2 test results - ie hsv2 igg 2.3 or whatever they are. that way we can see if you need more testing done or not.

what caused you to get tested in the first place?

grace

[Torn73]

Thanks for the reply everyone,

I tried looking for other posts related to my concern, but found nothing.

Actually, I am not concerned about my cold sore, but rather confused about the HSV2 on my genital area. My actual result is igg 3.7. (still a positive after a retest one month apart from the first). As I said so earlier, my doctor told me that I should not worry about infecting others as the value is a 'low positive'. Can you have HSV2  and not infect others? If my cold sore, that I know i have for over a decade now,  could in fact be a hsv2, how come i have never had any outbreak on my genital, nor infected anyone (I was in a 10 yrs relationship and he had/have never experienced symptoms at all)?

What caused me to get myself tested was because my friend got herself tested..and i wanted to confirm the cold sore on my lip and to eliminate any std that I might harbor for peace of mind. Now i wish I have never done it.

I appreciate any comments you can give. Thanks a bunch.

[Torn73]

By the way,  after I found out about my condition, i informed my last two partners and their test result came back negative for both HSV1 and 2. Have we been so lucky  that we've 'dodged bullets', without condoms, for several years? And no I did not date both men at same time (in case you're wondering).

[gracefromHHP]

If you are infected with hsv2, you can transmit it to others. Your provider gave you erroneous information.

You can have hsv2 orally but odds are you actually have hsv1 orally and your hsv2 is genital. Next time you have a cold sore, be seen within 48 hours of its appearance for a lesion culture and typing.  

just as a fyi, most folks who have hsv2 orally, also have it genitally so from this point onward, until proven otherwise, assume you have hsv2 genitally regardless.

If you plan to retest again, do so with the herpes WB blood test to rule out a false positive result.

grace