Negitive HSV 1-2 IGG but postive IGM...

[MsMj]

Hi everyone! In june 08 i was cultured postive for hsv2. A few weeks later blood test showed positive for hsv1... My doctor did one last blood test which was neg for both hsv 1-2 igg but positive for igm i know that there are many doctors who say that the igm doesnt count because of its accuracy.. my doctor did tell me that i dont have herpes.. can some1 please explain this to me...

[gracefromHHP]

You had a + lesion culture. No reason at all to doubt that.  There is a small percentage of folks who won't test accurately on the blood tests we currently have. Your options are - get a herpes WB and see what that shows or just wait until you get a return of genital symptoms and be seen within 48 hours of their appearance for a repeat lesion culture and typing.  

One other option is to contact Terri Warrens clinic ( www.westoverheights.com ) and discuss a consult with them to see if you would benefit from any daily pcr swabbing to see if any virus is detected genitally. They will tell you the costs of the consult when you call and then if you decide to  get the consult done, they'll go over the costs of the swabbing if they think it's an option for you.  

you should never, ever , ever get the herpes igm blood test done again and your provider should update themselves on it and stop using it in general for herpes testing.

grace

[MsMj]

I got the igg test as well and its almost a year since I had what i thought was a rash and my doctor said it didn't really look like herpes. She cultured it anyway in may, which was positive. The blood test was done in oct and again in dec where both hsv1 & 2 igg was neg.

[gracefromHHP]

the only way the culture was wrong was if it was a clerical error which thankfully doesn't happen a lot. You should assume you really are hsv2+ .  You can follow up with the testing I recommended if you need confirmation of the lesion culture for peace of mind.

grace