Positive HSV-1 with culture but negative HSV-1 and positive HSV-2 with herpeselect

I have had several herpes test using IgG  type specific blood herpeselect test and in all these tests I was positive for HSV-2 ( value is around 3.1) and always negative for HSV-1 ( value is around .04).; however I get cold sores on my lips and have never had anything in the genital area.

I had another cold sore on my lip on the usual place and saw a doctor for it and he took a culture and I was positive for HSV-1 but negative for HSV-2.

I did herpeselect blood test again. The results were again opposite of my culture test. The blood test shows positive results for HSV-2 and negative results for HSV-1 which is opposite of my culture type specific test.

There is no question that I have HSV-1 on my lips. I had them from childhood and culture specified that what I have on my lips is HSV-1 not HSV-2.

Why when I have a herpeselect type specific IgG test the results are opposite? Why does it show positive for HSV-2 but negative for HSV-1?

One of these two tests is wrong. Which result is acceptable?

My doctor told me that you might have some kind of reagent in your blood that causes cross reactivity in your herpeselect type specific blood test and shows that you are positive for HSV-2 but negative for HSV-1 but in reality you are positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2. She said the culture couldn’t be wrong because we grow the viral cells in a medium. What is your opinion about this discrepancy?  

[gracefromHHP]

Even the very best herpes tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.

your hsv2 result is still low enough that it's well worth confirming it if you've never had any genital symptoms. You should ask your doctor to send off a herpes western blot test to the U of washington for you. Or if they use quest labs you want the herpes inhibition assay - test #17170.

You already knew you had hsv1 orally before you had the lesion culture of an active cold sore that confirmed it.  A negative blood test for hsv1 means nothing.

clear as mud?

grace

[veryunclear]

I did a western blot. came back positive for hsv1 and negative for hsv2.
which one to believe?

[gracefromHHP]

The WB.  As I said - you already knew you had hsv1 orally regardless of what the blood tests were telling you. It was the hsv2 part that was in question.  Having hsv1 can cause the hsv2 to be falsely positive on the herpes select test which is why we often recommend confirming the hsv2 when it's less than 3.5 on the herpes select.

Should you ever decide that you still need additional testing done or you want to see what your status is from a new partner - only get the WB in the future .  

grace

[veryunclear]

Can I buy biokit and do a test at home?