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Very Low Positive Herpes. Should I retest?
I went in for a general physical last week, and got bloodwork and a completely unexpected positive result for my hsv 2 (herpeselect igg test). I have been freaking out, but asked for the number. I scored 1.13 (the minimum positive is 1.1). I am sexually active, but pretty infrequently. I have had protected penetrative sex (condom) with two men since my last negative test (October 2015), and have given/received oral sex with two men in the same year+ period. Also, I've had absolutely no symptoms and the last time I had sex was June (the most recent contact was oral sex a couple of days before the blood test).
Is it worth getting retested or am I just in denial? Thanks.
Is it worth getting retested or am I just in denial? Thanks.
Low false positives are common. Hsv2 igg tests are very sensitive and pick up odd protiens and what not. Any number under 3.5 is suspect. With your protected exposures and this low a number it is almost certainly a false positive. Retest is a few weeks and see what happens. If that test comes back negative (which I believe it will) then move on without concern
I have been freaking out about my situations so I contacted a leading Dr in this field. He feels my lesions are not HSV and this is what is now the new recommendation pertaining to blood test. I will bet you have fallen into a false Poz. Good luck hope this helps.
"I will also urge you not to pursue this with a herpes blood test. As it happens, this very week, The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) will publish official recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force and an accompanying editorial that I wrote both recommending against blood tests for herpes in most people because of problems with test performance (questionable sensitivity, high rates of falsely positive results). In situations such as yours, unless the lesions occur at which time further evaluation is warranted, I recommend against the HSV blood test. If that happens, it would be far better to seek a HSV-PCR test than to pursue the diagnosis with a blood test".
"I will also urge you not to pursue this with a herpes blood test. As it happens, this very week, The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) will publish official recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force and an accompanying editorial that I wrote both recommending against blood tests for herpes in most people because of problems with test performance (questionable sensitivity, high rates of falsely positive results). In situations such as yours, unless the lesions occur at which time further evaluation is warranted, I recommend against the HSV blood test. If that happens, it would be far better to seek a HSV-PCR test than to pursue the diagnosis with a blood test".
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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.
