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Seroconversion
I recently posted a question regarding testing time tables. I did some more investigative research, on the QuestDiagnostics site, they say, "THE MEAN TIME TO SEROCONVERSION USING THE
TYPE SPECIFIC ASSAY IS 25 DAYS."
Why is it then that so many people on here are saying its 12 weeks? This was on the quest diagnostic website, so I would imagine they would choose to err on the side of caution, but 25 days is drastically different than 84. So why is there such a big difference?
TYPE SPECIFIC ASSAY IS 25 DAYS."
Why is it then that so many people on here are saying its 12 weeks? This was on the quest diagnostic website, so I would imagine they would choose to err on the side of caution, but 25 days is drastically different than 84. So why is there such a big difference?
I appreciate the thorough response and I am now understanding what you are saying.
I actually just posted something I found that helped me out in understanding what you were saying. It was a study in 2003, but nonetheless will help shed some light on the issue.
I actually just posted something I found that helped me out in understanding what you were saying. It was a study in 2003, but nonetheless will help shed some light on the issue.
Howard,
I reread my posts and realized I came off a bit sassy, I wanted to apologize for that. You took time out of your day to help me, I don't mean to be rude.
I reread my posts and realized I came off a bit sassy, I wanted to apologize for that. You took time out of your day to help me, I don't mean to be rude.
I was also curious on your input about IgM testing. When I tested at 18 days post exposure, my doctor gave me a IgM test and a IgG Herpeselect test. He said he gave me the IgM test because it would be able to detect early infection because IgM appears before IgG. I was non-reactive for HSV1 and HSV2 on IgM at 18 days, and HSV1 0.08, and HSV2 0.27 at 18 days. I have shown no signs or symptoms.
Would it be a safe bet after this 43 day test that I am in the clear and to not need test for Herpes, HIV, or Syphilis again? (obviously unless sores appear).
Would it be a safe bet after this 43 day test that I am in the clear and to not need test for Herpes, HIV, or Syphilis again? (obviously unless sores appear).
I mean I understand what mean is. I also understand the reason doctors say 12+ weeks is because of legal issues. I understand that 25 is obviously inside of the 84 days.
Howard are there any numbers you could give me as to when people seroconvert?
I mean I find it hard to believe that a diagnostic testing agency would say that on average this test recognizes seroconversion at 25 days, but really most people don't know until 12 weeks. By them saying this it means that it is more likely to recognize seroconversion at day 30, 35, 40, 45 days etc.
I have read numerous places that the herpes results now a days are going to give you a very high confidence in the results 6+ weeks out. My question is, does anybody know the percentage of people who would seroconvert within the 6 weeks? I am wondering if the 6+ weeks mark is like at 90% and then between 6 and 12 weeks it climbs to the 96 or 97% confidence we see at that time?
Howard are there any numbers you could give me as to when people seroconvert?
I mean I find it hard to believe that a diagnostic testing agency would say that on average this test recognizes seroconversion at 25 days, but really most people don't know until 12 weeks. By them saying this it means that it is more likely to recognize seroconversion at day 30, 35, 40, 45 days etc.
I have read numerous places that the herpes results now a days are going to give you a very high confidence in the results 6+ weeks out. My question is, does anybody know the percentage of people who would seroconvert within the 6 weeks? I am wondering if the 6+ weeks mark is like at 90% and then between 6 and 12 weeks it climbs to the 96 or 97% confidence we see at that time?
Wastedfilm's comment is only partly right. Many people would have entirely negative results at 25 days, not just lower numbers.
"Mean" = average; they are synonyms. An average of 25 days is obviously consistent with 12+ weeks for some.
Probably because of the low positives that could be false positives. After 12 weeks the numbers would be higher than a 3.5 if you are infected. If we just waited the 25 days everyone would be taking western blots left and right because the number would be so low.
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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.
That's not what the statement means! It indicates that only about half of newly infected people have positive results by that time. (Technically, not exactly -- what I just stated is the median, not mean.) These statements are not created not for patients but for the benefit of lab scientists and clinicians ordering the tests, who will know how to interpret the information.
About half of all people newly infected with HSV2 have positive IgG results by 3-4 weeks (consistent with the 25 day mean or median), about 80% by 6 weeks, and 90-100% by 12-16 weeks.
Re IgM testing: Herpes and STD experts know it is a useless test and never order it, although many doctors are unaware of that. See the discussion by Dr. Hansfield in the std expert forum: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusiion-over-other-IgM-Herpes-posts/show/248394
That is my last comment. Feel free to continue with follow-up discussion in your several other threads.