Testing for HSV2 and transmission methods

[c27]

I'm a male and about two years ago I received conflicting test results for HSV2.  An IgG test showed negative, but a culture test performed a week later came back positive.  I was experiencing burning during urination and sores on my penis around the time I was tested but haven't had issues since.  My doctor at the time prescribed Acyclovir to clear up the "outbreak" and recommended I only use preventative medicine on an as needed basis.  I never underwent more testing because I was no longer sexually active.  

I recently started the first relationship with a female since being tested and we want more clarity around the previous test results and transmission risks.  Also, neither of us have ever had issues with HSV1.

Will someone explain the different testing methods available and which ones are considered "more reliable"?  I am seeing a new doctor in another city and want to make sure I request the right types of tests.

Is Valtrex the best "preventative medicine"?

Is there a risk of her contracting HSV2 by performing oral sex on me?

Is there a risk of her contracting HSV2 if I perform oral sex on her?

Is there a risk of her contracting HSV2 if I touch her genitals?  I have heard of "herpetic whitlow" which is also known as "finger herpes"

Is there a risk of her contracting HSV2 if she touches my penis?

Thanks
C

[gracefromHHP]

odds are it's hsv1 if you are still testing negative 2 years later. If you want, you can get a herpes WB to see if that helps clarify your status as to which type better. ( you can't get a herpes wb through labcorp , only quest )  otherwise all you can do is wait and when you get a recurrence, get it tested again and make sure it is typed. If it's hsv1 though, you might never get another recurrence to confirm this quickly.

[c27]

Thanks for the help.  The culture that came back positive was not typed.  This test was performed around 2 years ago.  I had a second igg typed blood test performed this summer and the results were consistent with the blood test performed 2 years ago - negative for both hsv1 and hsv2.  Both blood tests were performed by LabCorp.

My understanding is there are no false positives when it comes to culture tests, and that the first blood test was a likely false negative because the virus had just been contracted.  Is it possible that I received a second false negative two years later?  

What other "more accurate" tests are available?

[gracefromHHP]

you and your partner should both seek out type specific herpes igg blood tests to see who has what. You can't make educated decisions about what precautions to take in a relationship until you know who has what.

when you had your lesion culture done, do you recall was it specifically hsv2+ , hsv1+ or just + for herpes and not typed?

valtrex is the most convenient way to prevent ob's and reduce the risk of transmission to a partner. It's not the best, just the most convenient. If your insurance doesn't make it affordable consider acyclovir 2x/day instead.

your partner can contract hsv2 orally but overall the risk is very low. You being on daily suppressive therapy would help lower her risk even more. Protected oral sex makes the risk zero for her.

you performing oral on a partner is no risk of transmitting your hsv2 to her.

Assuming you have hsv2 and she doesn't, if you two did nothing but avoid sex anytime you had anything going on genitally, on average she'd be 90-92% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. You taking daily suppressive therapy also as well as properly using condoms would increase her odds to 97-98% each year of NOT contracting hsv2 from you.

you won't transmit your genital herpes to a partner from manually stimulating them.

she's not likely to contract hsv2 on her hands either as long as you don't have any obvious lesions present and she doesn't have open cuts on her hands.

keep asking questions!  Have you ever read the free herpes handbook ?

grace