Positive and Negative HSV2 Results

[wineman62]

Folks, I really don't know what to think. I had a protected contact with a female, whose status I did not know. I got nervous and got STD tests done about 3-4 weeks after contact. All tests have come back negative, except the following scenario. The first HSV test was an IGG test (not sure if it was type specific) at Planned Parenthood. The test result came in positive for HSV2 (HSV1 was negative) - at about 1.36. I then took a type specific HSV1/2 IGG test a few days later (done through Labcorp) that was completely negative for both HSV 1 and 2. I went to my doctor at about week 4, and he tested me for all STDs. Everything was negative, except the IGG HSV2 test, which was positive at about 1.34. So, in this 4 week window, I had one slightly positive test (not sure the type of test run by Planned Parenthood), one type specific test at Labcorp which was negative, and one IGG test from my doctor that was slightly positive. There have been no other contacts since this last contact.

During this time, I was feeling some irritated skin sensations underneath the base of my penis - between the penis and scrotum. I have noticed that I think I have sebaceous prominence underneath the shaft of my penis, but I'm not sure if this can cause any skin irritation. It's amazing what you find when you are really looking! I also have what my doctor has determined is come kind of heat rash on both sides of the inside groin area - which I have battled for quite some time - between the leg and groin area. It doesn't really bother me at all, but I wonder if it is a bacterial infection?

Here is the part that I just can't understand. It is now week 12, and I took the IGG HSV1/2 Type Specific test again (done through Labcorp) and HSV1 and HSV2 are both negative. What the heck am I supposed to believe? Am I negative or positive for HSV2?

I am still feeling some irritation between my penis and scrotum, but I have never had an outbreak of any kind. I have several questions that I need help understanding:

1) Is 12 weeks after contact a reasonable amount of time to feel pretty good that I do not have HSV2?
2) Are my previous HSV2 positive test results so low that they could be false positives?
3) If one were really positive for HSV2, wouldn't the level of antibodies increase in the body, making the HSV2 test result numbers significantly higher after 12 weeks?
4) At 4 weeks, I tested negative for gonorrhea, syphillas, clamydia, and HIV was negative after 12 weeks. Are there other STDs that could cause this irritation if it is not from HSV2? What about HPV? I have not been tested for this.

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Your only + hsv2 igg's have been low positives and are most likely false positives.  If you need the peace of mind, wait until 16 weeks post encounter and get a biokit hsv2 igg or a herpes Wb to confirm the negative hsv2 status.

grace

[wineman62]

Hi Grace,

First of all, thanks for your response. I really appreciate it. Any chance you can comment on my 3rd question from my original post? I assume herpes is like any other virus; namely, the body produces antibodies to fight the infection. Doesn't the number of antibodies produced increase over time to fight the infection? If the virus is dormant, would the level of antibodies remain about the same, since the body doesn't can not find the virus and it is not active?

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Most folks who are + will show + by the 12 week mark. Some do take up to 6 months but for most testing by the 4 month mark is conclusive .If you are +, you get to the positive range and then stay there though it will vary from test to test, lab to lab, positives stay positive the  majority of the time.   I really don't think you have hsv2 but as I said, retesting at the 16 week mark with one of the other tests is the best course of action if you need the peace of mind.

grace

[wineman62]

Grace,

How can one get tested with the "Gold Standard" of HSV tests - the Western Blot? From what I have read so far, most (if not all) doctors will not perform the test, and if one is able to get the test, it seems like a ridiculous process to go through to get the blood drawn and shipped to the University of Washington. Is it worth the trouble? Here is some info I found:

http://www.racoon.com/herpes/WB_test.htm

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

All quest labs can draw the herpes WB and send it to U of washington for you.  You can also  order up the kit yourself, have your doctor draw the blood and send it for you too. With the restrictions on mail they have currently, I don't recommend sending it yourself as I believe the HHP link you gave gives directions how to do.  Plenty of people to do it for you easier.

grace

[wineman62]

Grace,

So, I have the results from the Quest HSV1/2 test of last week. The Quest HSV1 was negative and HSV2 was positive at 1.42 - recall I tested positive for HSV2 at Quest (1.70) about 3.5 weeks after contact. I have never tested positive for HSV1 at any time, anywhere. Let me chronicle my HSV2 testing one more time to put it in perspective. Can one of the doctors on the site comment on this?

1) Tested for HSV2 at Planned Parenthood 3.5 weeks after "protected" contact. I'm not sure what HSV2 test Planned Parenthood ran, but HSV2 was positive at about 1.36

2) Tested for HSV2 thru Advanced Testing Center at the same 3.5 week window. The testing was done at LabCorp. This test was the "HerpeSelect - Type Specific" IGG test for HSV1/2. HSV2 was Negative (less than 0.90)

3) Tested a few days later (week 3.5) through Quest (which I forgot to cite in my first post) thru Advanced Testing Center with the same "HerpeSelect - Type Specific" IGG test for HSV1/2. Tested positive at 1.70.

4) Tested at about week 4 thru my doctor and tested HSV2 positive at 1.34. I'm not sure the exact test my doctor ran (and he would not give me the time of day to explain it), but he said it was an IGG test for HSV1/2.

Ok, now let's fast forward all of this to week 12 and you can hopefully get an appreciation for my anxiety.

1) For almost 2 months now, I have been experiencing pretty frequent (almost constant) irritation on the top part of my left scrotum. I can not touch this area or the underside of my penis without it becoming inflamed almost right away - not normal for me. The irritation also runs up and down the under side of my penis. My penis almost always seems to be stuck to my scrotum on the side that is irritated. I have not seen any blisters of any kind. In fact, I can't even recall feeling any itching of any kind - just pretty regular irritation. Can herpes cause this type of irritation on a fairly regular basis?

2) I Re-Tested for HSV1/2 thru Advanced Testing Center at Labcorp at week 12 after contact. HSV1 and HSV2 were both negative.

3) I Re-tested for HSV 1/2 thru Advanced Testing Center at Quest this time - about 12.5 weeks after contact. HSV1 is negative. HSV2 is positive, but is now only 1.42, when it was measured at 1.70 about 3.5 weeks after contact. If I really had HSV2, I would think the amount of antibodies in my system would increase, not decrease - correct?

What the heck am I supposed to believe? Who is right, LabCorp or Quest? Are they both reliable labs? This is ridiculous. I can't explain the irritation. I went and saw a dermatologist and she did not see anything that looked like herpes and could not explain the irritation. She told me to use Neosporen, which did not help at all.

Do you think this is herpes? What other infections can cause this type of almost constant irritation? Are my positive numbers so low that this could be my natural body? Any chance that chicken pox or mono could be causing some type of cross pollination with the HSV2 test?

Can herpes infections cause more bacterial infections to surface?

I've pretty much mentally accepted the fact that I have HSV2, but there is so much ambiguity.

Would you mind posting some info on where/how I can get the HSV2 Western Blot test done if I choose to do it?

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

I already gave you the WB info.  You are getting tested thru quest labs - your provider can order a herpes WB from them.  34534 is the test number your provider needs to order.  You need to wait to at least 16 weeks post encounter though - the WB needs a longer time to be effective.

the herpes blood test lapcorp uses can't be used before 16 weeks post encounter either.


irritation all the time is not due to herpes. what has your provider been saying about it when you show it to them?

grace

[wineman62]

Grace,

Thanks for the WB info.

My service providers have not said/done much regarding my irritation. The dermatologist thinks it is a reaction to soaps or detergents, yet I have used the same soaps for several years w/o issues. The irritation tends to get worse as the day goes along and skin is rubbing together during the day - at least that's what has happened lately.

Are there bacterial/yeast type of infections that can cause this type of irritation?

[gracefromHHP]

You can have reactions to soaps and such at anytime. especially during these tough economic times - they frequently change suppliers for ingredients and change their ingredients.

Continue to follow up on your symptoms with the dermatologist at this point.

grace

[wineman62]

Thanks. BTW, I went and had all the STDs tested at my doctor (about week 14 now). All STDs are negative, except our good old friend HSV2, which was 1.13. Turns out my doc uses Quest and it was the Type Specific Herpeselect test. So, I have been positive at Quest twice during weeks 12-14, ranging from 1.13 to about 1.34 and negative at Labcorp at week 12 - all with the same Type Specific test.

At this point, I really don't feel like getting any more tests done - WB or otherwise. I am just going to accept the fact that I have it and move on with my life. I may get tested with a type specific test at the 6 month window just to see.

[maya111]

wow and im complaining about 2 false positive results you went thourgh he~~ lol im so sorry theres a lot they dont explain they you find out later.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/714052?personal_page_id=184173

[gracefromHHP]

I recommend the WB at the appropriate time.  Why spend money on preventing transmission to a partner if you don't really have it, not to mention why worry about transmission if you aren't infected?   Also if you assume you have hsv2 and don't really have it and get involved with a hsv2+ partner thinking you don't need to take precautions, then you probably will end up with hsv2 when you could've taken simple precautions to prevent it.

Only about 20% of folks with results in the range yours has been in are really hsv2+. It's well worth the further testing.  

grace

[wineman62]

Hi Grace,

Thanks for the info. I'll take it into consideration.

Just curious, if I do have it, can a herpes out-break appear differently (or be harder to identify) on the scrotum than on the penis? I have felt almost constant irritation on this one part of my scrotum, just under my penis. If I touch one specific spot - which looks like it is one of the hair follicals - it is really sensitive - and has felt irritated to greater or lesser degree for almost 2 months now. The docs could not see anything (surprise, surprise). My doc did prescribe some triamcinolone 0.1% cream, and I just started using it 2 days ago - so I'll have to see how it goes. Is it possible that a herpes infection can cause almost constant skin irritation, even if the irritation has varying degrees of discomfort?

[wineman62]

Grace,

I saw this post from you below. So, LabCorp DOESN'T use the same test as Quest? What is the difference between the "Captiva Test" and the "HerpesSelect" test? If LabCorp does in fact use the "Captiva Test" and Quest uses the "HerpesSelect" test, I have consistently test negative at LabCorp and very slightly positive at Quest. I am not sure if what you are saying below is correct though. I called Advanced Testing Center and they told me that both labs use the "HerpesSelect" test for their testing. Not sure what to believe....

Your post below:

Also - supposedly lab corp is no longer doing the herpeselect as their type specific testing and they have switched to the captiva herpes test. We don't have as much info on the false positive rate with that test as we do the herpeselect but it's still never a bad idea to confirm any low positive with additional testing when you don't have a history of obvious genital lesions and a + lesion culture. ( keep forgetting to make that point )

grace

[gracefromHHP]

www.herpesdiagnosis.com has terrific info on the specificity and sensitivity of the most commonly available herpes blood tests out there for more reading.


The area under your scrotun sounds like just plain irritation or fungal.

grace

[wineman62]

Hi Grace,

So, it is now 19 weeks after contact and I am considering the WB test. I assume 19 weeks is enough time for conclusive WB results, right? My doctor will not even discuss the WB test, as he thinks I am HSV2 positive and no further testing is necessary. Heck, I might be, but it is worth knowing for sure.

Please forgive me for asking this again, but how can I get the WB test done thru Quest if my doctor will not approve the test? I know you gave me the test ID number. Is there a phone number that you have which I can call so I can expedite the process thru Quest? BTW, any idea how much it costs?

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Quest won't let you order the WB on your own without your doctor's order. You can call your local lab and see if you order the WB kit yourself if they will draw the blood and send it for you.  No idea what they'll charge for that.

Another option is check around for herpes support groups in your area and see if anyone in them were able to get a WB from a doctor in your area and go thru them.

grace

[wineman62]

Grace,

I found this post:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/693527

Supposedly, this person contacted Quest directly, but I assume she needed a doctor to order the test, right? Is there any chance of finding the Quest phone number?

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

You can google to find the quest lab closest to you.

grace

[wineman62]

I called a local Quest lab. They told me that I can get the WB test done, but need to have the test approved by my doctor, which for me means fat-chance. This is really frustrating....

[maya111]

yeah i know lol (all 2 well unfortinuetally) you have to find a (doctor) lab to draw that can actually process/ship out the specimen etc... once you find a doctor that can actually "do it"-meaning having a "certain level-i think its a level 5 liscence" liscence to draw for the w.b test. most dont because you need complicated lab equipment etc.. for example a lab that can to process difficult viruses like siphilus (if tha makes sense). then take all your past hsv 1/2 records w you and explain as well that you need a w..b. done to test the false positive ratio.(mostly everyone thinks the herpes select is like 98% accurate all together so most just go w those results but not w scores under 3.5/3.0 and most doctors/health professionals wont admit it because theres not a lot of info, trials,cdc,fda etc..explaining why all these problems happen w scores under 3.5/3.0(this actually happens a lot after my 10 months or so "investigation" lol or like the info in my blog you could try a immmunoblot by i think captiva. some people test positive w alissa and not immunoblot(strange i know but dont know why) or try a rapid bio kit ;( hope everything works out ok!

[wineman62]

Grace,

So, it is 23 weeks after suspected contact and I just took the Type Specific HSV2 HerpesSelect test again at Labcorp. I tested slightly positive this time at 1.26. If you recall, I have consistently tested negative at Labcorp, when tested at the 4 week and 13 week marks.

I have consistently tested slightly positive at Quest with the same exact test, ranging from about 1.13 to about 1.4, and through roughly the same time frames as above.

Frankly, I now think I am positive for HSV2. With that said, I can get the WB test done at Quest (test #34534) through an online source - Advanced Testing Center. It's not cheap at $350, but at least I will get some kind of confirmation. Wish me luck and say a prayer that it comes back negative. I will post the results of the WB when I get them.

[maya111]

i dunno but i think the captia has less false positives w scores under 3.5 than the herpes select. im not even sure about trinity's scores yet lol

[wineman62]

Grace,

So, I have the results back from the HSV2-WB test. The test came back indeterminate. They noted in the results that there was an "atypical reactivity", which may not be from HSV2. I took this test at 23 weeks, and it's not specifically positive, but not negative either. I really don't know what to make of these results. Is it possible that I am just barely starting to convert, even after 23 weeks? Is it possible that there is something in my body that is triggering these results? Could chicken-pox or mono cause this, both of which I have had?

They mentioned in the results that "full antibody profiles to HSV may take 12-16 weeks to develop, especially if anti-viral therapy was given." I have been taking 500mg of Valtrex every day for over 2 months, perhaps as long as 3 months, so I wonder if the Valtrex has skewed my results to make them "indeterminate"?

What am I supposed to make of these results? I am very confused by this. I would think that by 23 weeks, I would be showing pretty positive if I really had HSV2. Should I retest in 2-3 months? This is really frustrating.