Odd Test Results

[cheerleader2009]

I recently had blood work taken and came back negative despite one test. I was tested for HSV1 and HSV2 in one test (not differential) and antibodies above 1.0 are diagnosed as positive. My antibodies are at 37. My gyno said this is seriously unusual because people with antibodies at that level are usually in a breakout stage. I have NEVER had a breakout, genital or oral. I went in for the differential test a couple of days ago to test for HSV1 IGg and IgM specifically. I broke up with my boyfriend of 8 months (whom i was having unprotected sex with for very long) and had sex with my ex boyfriend unprotected. How is it possible that neither of them contracted the virus? Even if i DO have HSV2? I know i can be a carrier but it seems odd that i did not spread it to either person. Also, I want to know what the chances are that my antibodies come back only positive for HSV1. I have had recurrent (maybe 2-3x a year) strep nfections for as long as i can remember. Bad ones where i cant eat anything. Could this be how i breakout? I am so confused and scared. This is the last thing i expected.

[petal130]

Strep has nothing to do with herpes - one's bacteria, the other a virus.

The combined IgG test is worthless as is the IgM - you need an IgG type specific blood test for diagnosing herpes. You should be tested for both HSV1 and HSV2 to truly find out your herpes status.

You mentioned having an outbreak - where? Did you ever have a swab/culture of that area?

[gracefromHHP]

A hsv igg result of 37 only means that you have hsv somewhere in your body. It doesn't mean you are having a recurrence. it doesn't help you know if it's hsv1 or hsv2.  Repeating your blood test with a type specific one is the best course of action.

As petal already said, getting the igm done is meaningless.  I'm not at home to have my link handy as to why it is specifically but it is in the herpes health page here on medhelp ( scroll down to lower right hand corner to find it easily ).

Encourage your provider to spend a lousy $3 at the bookstore at www.ashastd.org on the herpes blood testing toolkit to better update their knowledge of herpes blood testing so that they can start serving their patients better.  their knowledge of herpes blood testing is lacking severely and the booklet is awesome.

both your recent partners should also pursue type specific herpes igg blood testing to see what their statuses are too.

grace

[cheerleader2009]

i have NEVER had a breakout, anywhere! and my doctor finds it extremely odd and puzzling that my hsv antibodies are this high and that i have never once broken out. because usually at 37, and outbreak has happened somewhere and they swab a lesion.  and I KNOW that strep and herpes are not the same bacteria. but my strep culture almost all of the time comes back negative, but i always still get really sore throats, to the point where i cant even swallow! my doctor has only seen one other case like this before, and i have a history of shingles etc. it doesnt make any sense that my antibodies are that high and i have no outbreak, anywhere, even if i am asymptomatic. my doctor told me asympotomatic herpes patients do not have that high antibody levels.

[petal130]

Read graces post - not sure why you're reiterating information - she told you what needs to be done. IgG type specific blood test.

You don't have to have an outbreak/symptoms to have herpes.

[gracefromHHP]

a 37 on a non-type specific test is not unusual high either. It also doesn't say a thing about the severity of infection or number of ob's.  Your provider is misunderstanding what the blood test results mean ( though what they ordered wasn't helpful in the first place ).

I encourage you to seek out better testing at this point.

grace

[cheerleader2009]

i did get type specific blood testing. what i WAS concerned about was i wanted to know if it was a higher possibility of me having hsv 1 or hsv 2.

[gracefromHHP]

well odds are you have at least one type of herpes in your body. when you get your blood test results back from this newest test, we can better help you.

grace

[cheerleader2009]

hey grace i got my test results back for type specific IGg. THE test results confused my OBGYN and shes astonished by the outcome. My IGg levels are as follows


hsv1 <  0.9 = negative
hsv2 < 0.9 = negative


BUTTTT,

my IGm I/II combined
came back as 2.89 =  that is positive!

and my obgyn informed me she has never seen a case like this before. she had to call the department on the phone and talk to them. im getting retested for IGg in another six weeks to see if my igg goes up. i still do not know what i have and my doctor told me there is NO TEST out there to see specific IGm type!  what does this mean?

[cheerleader2009]

also mind you. i was in a relationship for 10 months. i know the igm shows active form but i know my partner was clean during those 10 months.

[petal130]

Your IgG test shows negative for both HSV1 and HSV2.

Disregard the IgM blood test results - it is not at all a valid test for diagnosing herpes.