Aa
Question regarding HSV Test for Herpes
Hi,
I was having sores/ red spots on my penis and showed it to the Dermatologist. He suggested it might be herpes so asked me to go for the test.
the results I got were as follows:
IgG Antibodies to Herpes Simplex,Serum 20.7 ( Negative ) IU/ml
Method : ELISA
Reference: HSV 1 & 2 ( IgG )
Negative : 110 IU/ml
IgM Antibodies to Herpes Simplex,Serum 0.25 (Negative)
HSV 1 & 2 ( IgM )
Negative : 1.1 Ab Index
What does this mean? I have been having the problem for a while now and am really worried. Would appreciate any help. thanks!
I was having sores/ red spots on my penis and showed it to the Dermatologist. He suggested it might be herpes so asked me to go for the test.
the results I got were as follows:
IgG Antibodies to Herpes Simplex,Serum 20.7 ( Negative ) IU/ml
Method : ELISA
Reference: HSV 1 & 2 ( IgG )
Negative : 110 IU/ml
IgM Antibodies to Herpes Simplex,Serum 0.25 (Negative)
HSV 1 & 2 ( IgM )
Negative : 1.1 Ab Index
What does this mean? I have been having the problem for a while now and am really worried. Would appreciate any help. thanks!
Oops -- atat31 is right. I'm used to the tests whose cut-off value is 0.9-1.1 (HerpeSelect, Captia) and only saw 20.7, missed the rest with cut-off of 110.
Worried, my advice above is wrong. Your test result reliably shows you are not infected with either HSV1 or HSV2, unless you were infected within the previous few weeks. This result makes it unlikely your symptoms are due to recurrent herpes. In other words, herpes is not the cause of a problem you have had "for a while now". But if this were the first time you had such symptoms, you might need additional testing in the future to see if the test becomes positive. Discuss it with your dermatologist.
Worried, my advice above is wrong. Your test result reliably shows you are not infected with either HSV1 or HSV2, unless you were infected within the previous few weeks. This result makes it unlikely your symptoms are due to recurrent herpes. In other words, herpes is not the cause of a problem you have had "for a while now". But if this were the first time you had such symptoms, you might need additional testing in the future to see if the test becomes positive. Discuss it with your dermatologist.
How are you interpreting these results?
Seems like a value of 20.7 IU/ml is below the 110 IU/ml negative.
Seems like a value of 20.7 IU/ml is below the 110 IU/ml negative.
It appears you had a non-type specific blood test. The IgG test shows you are infected with HSV, but doesn't tell whether you have HSV1, HSV2, or maybe even both. Since herpes is one of the most common cause of penile sores, and a dermatologist suspected herpes, probably you have it. But not necessarily -- your positive test could be from a non-genital (probably oral) HSV1 infection.
The IgM test result isn't very helpful. In theory, IgM testing is positive soon after a new infection and later becomes negative, suggesting you have been infected for at least several months, maybe for years. However, the IgM test is inherently unreliable.
Follow up with the dermatologist. Depending on what tests are available in your part of the country, you should have a type-specific blood test to distinguish HSV1 from HSV2; or in a future outbreak, the sores can be tested for the virus itself.
The IgM test result isn't very helpful. In theory, IgM testing is positive soon after a new infection and later becomes negative, suggesting you have been infected for at least several months, maybe for years. However, the IgM test is inherently unreliable.
Follow up with the dermatologist. Depending on what tests are available in your part of the country, you should have a type-specific blood test to distinguish HSV1 from HSV2; or in a future outbreak, the sores can be tested for the virus itself.
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.
