Aa
Positive culture 18 months ago...3 sets of blood work negative
Glad I discovered this site because it reassures me that I'm not the only one who is confused about this STD! 18 months ago I had a small breakout and my gyn nurse did a swab culture which came back positive for HSV2. I have not had any breakouts since and had 3 separate blood workups done 3 months after diagnosis, 6 moths after and just this past week, 18 months after and all were negative. All were the IGg tests.
Does the swab trump the blood work? Should I get the Western Blot test or purchase an "at home swab kit" to do again just in case I get another breakout? The man I was with, his blood work tested positive, but he had no visible sores. Maybe I'm just in denial and hope that this is all a dream and I need to wake up and move on with whatever it is I have. How long is too long to obsess with this? The guy I'm with now has his own immune system problems and his docs say that if he get herpes from me it will make his situation worse...HELP!
Does the swab trump the blood work? Should I get the Western Blot test or purchase an "at home swab kit" to do again just in case I get another breakout? The man I was with, his blood work tested positive, but he had no visible sores. Maybe I'm just in denial and hope that this is all a dream and I need to wake up and move on with whatever it is I have. How long is too long to obsess with this? The guy I'm with now has his own immune system problems and his docs say that if he get herpes from me it will make his situation worse...HELP!
This happens more than anyone cares to discuss on here.
A negative Western Blot DOES NOT override a positive culture. A positive culture on an outbreak indicates the virus was isolated on the lesion and you indeed have herpes. Lab mix-ups occurring with these type of things is beyond rare. Next to zero. No chance.
Blood tests have WAY more room for error and inaccuracy compared to a positive swab. Terri Warren herself (albeit rare) stated that she has had roughly 9-11 patients in her 30+ years of practice confirmed positive via culture and repeatedly negative via IGG and Western Blot. They have no explanation or reasoning behind the issue.
Bottom line, this happens and although rarely, it indeed does. Where somebody positively infected with herpes will have repeated negative blood tests.
A Western Blot for you would be rather pointless in my opinion. Simply because it may or may not pick up antibodies like the previous IGG's you have had. A Western Blot DOES NOT overrule a positive swab. So even if you took the test and it was negative, it does not mean you weren't infected. A culture has already identified that.
It's not worth trying to figure out why antibodies of yours aren't registering on these tests. I've tried to figure that out for myself for over 18 months. Certain people just don't create enough antibodies to flag a positive even though they truly are infected.
A negative Western Blot DOES NOT override a positive culture. A positive culture on an outbreak indicates the virus was isolated on the lesion and you indeed have herpes. Lab mix-ups occurring with these type of things is beyond rare. Next to zero. No chance.
Blood tests have WAY more room for error and inaccuracy compared to a positive swab. Terri Warren herself (albeit rare) stated that she has had roughly 9-11 patients in her 30+ years of practice confirmed positive via culture and repeatedly negative via IGG and Western Blot. They have no explanation or reasoning behind the issue.
Bottom line, this happens and although rarely, it indeed does. Where somebody positively infected with herpes will have repeated negative blood tests.
A Western Blot for you would be rather pointless in my opinion. Simply because it may or may not pick up antibodies like the previous IGG's you have had. A Western Blot DOES NOT overrule a positive swab. So even if you took the test and it was negative, it does not mean you weren't infected. A culture has already identified that.
It's not worth trying to figure out why antibodies of yours aren't registering on these tests. I've tried to figure that out for myself for over 18 months. Certain people just don't create enough antibodies to flag a positive even though they truly are infected.
I too had a 6 months IGG done and was negative but when I read stuff like this it scares me. Please let us know when you take the WB.
Yes please do it and let us all know..now I started to doubt that maybe my 6 months IGg negative result is wrong..and that the Igg test is not conclusive..only swab and WB :( no waaay! tears
Yes please do it and let us all know..now I started to doubt that maybe my 6 months IGg negative result is wrong..and that the Igg test is not conclusive..only swab and WB :( no waaay! tears
Hi, this is the second time this week ive read something similar to this and normaly we go with the swab as conclusive if positive as the only real false positive comes from a lab mix up. Do the Western Blot and if thats negative then consider that conclusive
That's weird u have the swab positive! As experts in this cite said, IGg test after 3 months is a good indicator u r hsv free..and aftrt 6 is conclusive..this is what they said to me yesterday.. and u received 2 neg result after 3 months post exposure...especially the one at 18 months!
Lets wait to hear from them...now i started to get confused about my result..neg after 6 month..:( maybe mine was wrong
Lets wait to hear from them...now i started to get confused about my result..neg after 6 month..:( maybe mine was wrong
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
