Odds of false positive with IgG test

Two weeks ago I recieved oral sex from two different girls a week apart. Less than a week after I noticed three small cuts near the frenulum of my penis which healed within 3 days though the area remained red for at least 5 more days. I have never had any outbreak before orally or genitally. I tested negative for HSV-2 a year ago but have had unproctected sex with 3 partners since then. I have never been tested for HSV-1. I was tested last Wednesday. My IgG test results came back positive for 1&2. I'm pretty devasted. HSV-1 = 1.1 HSV-2 = 3.1

What are the odds that either could be a false positive? Should I get a prescription if I am not sexually active?

[gracefromHHP]

your hsv2 is still a low positive and might even be a false positive.

how long prior to your testing had you last had genital sex?
grace

[mementomori]

Grace, first of all, thank you for responding. I've looked at this forum a lot in recent weeks and you have been helpful, reassuring and straightforward with others. And now I personally appreciate your response to my post.

I last had unproctected vaginal intercourse about about six weeks prior to testing maybe a bit less.

I've read elsewhere in these forums that the numbers can sometimes be higher with new infections and can lower over time. But I've also read that the numbers vary from person to person and you can't really infer the time of infection from IgG test, only that I had those antibodies roughly 2 months ago in my system. Is that correct?

I'm debating going to Planned Parenthood this week for a second test.

I wonder about the cutoffs for the IgG, i.e. x1.1 = positive.  Are those conservative estimates? I read Dr. Hunter note elsewhere that 1.1-3.5 can often be false positives.

I probably am grasping at straws and need to prepare myself for life with this virus.

Again, thank you for your help!

[gracefromHHP]

At this point I'd wait and repeat your blood testing in another 6-10 weeks. that way if this was a recently acquired infection from the last time you had sex, it should be reflected on the blood test when you repeat it. If your igg is still a low positive on the 2nd test , then further confirmatory testing will be needed but let's start with the simple first.  

I know it's not quick and easy answers but it's the best you can do at this point since it's only been 6 weeks since you last had sex.

if you find out that you really do have hsv2, all you know is that you contracted it sometime in the last year since you tested neg a year ago.

grace

[mementomori]

Grace,

Again, thank you.  A few follow up questions: should I request a retest of the sera that show a low positive result? Or should I wait the 6 to 10 weeks for a new ELISA test. I read elsewhere in medpub a chart from the study done by Dr. Hansfield on false positives that my result (it was actually a 3.05) had about 70% or more certainty of being a true (if low) positive.

Also, I'm thinking of doing the biokit test. Should I wait the 6-10 weeks for that, or does it really matter?

[gracefromHHP]

totally new test  since you are looking for evidence of seroconversion from a potentially newly acquired infection.

yes you still have to wait another 2 months for the biokit.

grace

[mementomori]

Grace,

Hi, Update:

I was just tested again using HerpeSelect a few weeks ago with the following results:

HSV-1  1.4
HSV-2  1.8

I'm perplexed because the HSV-2 value decreased from 3.05 to 1.8, whereas the ratio for HSV-1 decreased only slightly from 1.5 to 1.4 (I was mistaken on my first post about the HSV-1 value).

I thought the numbers were supposed to remain stable, or, perhaps increase as seroconversion happens. I don't want to have false hopes that I don't have HSV-2 but I'm thinking more so now that maybe the original result result was a false positive, especially with a more consistent HSV-1 score.

I read about the Biokit before but it is only available as part of a $280 STD panel "package" in my area because the Dr. knows he's the sole option for this test in the area--I called the company. Insurance won't cover his "package" deal.  But now more than before I really want to know more definitively.

[FindingFavor]

Sounds false to me, after all of the research I've done in the last (my test HSV-2 test came back as 1.1) I would infer a false result. How did you receive your results? Did they call you back in or did you call them?

[Carrie_22]

Hi Grace,

I just received an abnormal pap and have to go in for a colposcopy in a couple days. This prompted me to want to get a blood test for all STD's. I received a positive for Herpes 1 and level 2. I am devastated and I cry all the time now. I've been with only 2 guys in my life. I had unprotected sex with my first boyfriend of 4 years because he tested negative for everything, including herpes 1 and 2. Now it's been 7 years since i've been with him (i've been with my current boyfriend for 2 years with unprotected sex because same thing with my first boyfriend, he got tested for everything including herpes 1 and 2 right before we were together and it was negative. My blood test came back pos. for 1 and 2 about 3 weeks ago so my current boyfriend got tested for herpes 1 and 2 about 5 days ago and his both came out negative again for 1 and 2. I feel like I'm going crazy and I don't know what to do. If I've had unprotected sex over the last 2 yrs with my boyfriend wouldn't we both either be pos. or neg.? One of us can't be pos. and the other neg. for herpes 2 right? I asked the gyno to give me the Western Blot test and she doesn't want to, I'm wondering if it's because it's an expensive test and they might lose some money by giving me the test (I have a PPO with blue cross so i thought the insurance would just take care of it, but the doctors seem reluctant to give me that test). I don't know what to do and I just want clarity. Is it more possible that my one of my exes had a false negative or that I am getting a false positive? I've never really had symptoms of what I would think herpes would be. I wear pads during my periods and the skin around there gets irritated and sometimes I get yeast infections only when I'm on my period, but I just figured it was because all the blood and maybe the friction from the pad? I sincerely appreciate any advice you can give me, thanks :) Carrie  

[gracefromHHP]

i can best help you if you post your actual test results - e.g. hsv1 igg 3.3 and hsv2 igg 2.3 or whatever they are. also this is an old post so if you can post your results in a new post that is all yours, that will be much helpful - thanks!

grace

[zf0000]

Hi Grace,
I had an accident with my last partner (condom got stuck in my cervix - so there may have been some rubbing without protection or sperm contact)around November 2011 frame (so over 3 months). I just took the STD test last week and returned negative for HSV1 and positive for HSV2.
HSV1 IgG 0.10
HSV2 IgG 2.60
I never had an outbreak previously, only recuring yeast infections. Before last partner whom i had the accident with I was with my previous boyfriend for 5 years and both of us were tested and clean before having any sort of intercourse.
I did find out that my last partner had oral sex with a random encounter and did not get tested before me. But previously, he only had few long term partners (3 or 4)
I'm sure you can guess that I am very worried and not able to sleep or eat anymore as I am having hard time to cope with this. I only had 2 partners before that last one and there were long term relationships; and I get tested between every partner (always negative). My odds of getting it are really low but I got tested positive for Herpes II this time.
What are the odd that I am a false positive? And what should I do next?
I am trying to be as rationale as I can. I asked my partner to go get tested and hoping he returns negative.

I have been reading your responses and it seems that we are all in the same page and grateful for having a person like you being honest and rationale in your responses. Thank you so much. I really think you are saving people from going into depression when not needed.

ZF (3/24/12)