can a herpes test be false?

[bratty1978]

I was wondering if a herpes test could be false. I was recently diagnosed with herpes 1 and 2 but the same day they told me they took more blood and that test came back negative. I have searched the internet and all the pictures of herpes out breaks and nothing adds up. The only symptom I have is itching in the vaginal area and that has been regular for over 2 months now. One doctor treaded me for bacterial vaginosis as well as a yeast infection but this other doctor has started treating me for herpes and the itching is still there. They have never done any swab tests just blood work. What do I do? I am so confused right now and scared. All the doctor would tell me about herpes is that it is like having chicken pox and shingles. I don't understand. Can someone please help me?

[auntiejessi]

If you get your test results, and post them here exactly, we can help sort it all out.  It is possible for false positives - no test is 100% accurate, and doctors don't always order the right test, etc.

Aj

[timeout96]

I'm no doctor but if I were you I would ask to see my test results to see which test they gave you and ask the doctor to explain the test results to you. From what I understand you need to get a test called HerpeSelect. This test will give you accurate results as to which type you may have been infected with.

  Try not to look at pictures from the internet on how herpes look. They often show the worse case scenarios and rarely show mild cases of it. Symptoms vary from person to person. Swab tests should only be done with an active lesion that is not over a few days old, ( 24-48hrs) otherwise you run the risk of getting back a false negative.

  To answer your question yes tests can give back false negatives. It depends on what kind of test you take and when you take them. My advice to you is try to stay calm, I know how you feel I've just been through this horrific experience myself. Go to your doctor and ask them to explain herpes infections to you thoroughly.  Then ask for a herpes select igG test, NOT IGM, to give you exact results.

   Also, chicken pox and shingles are a type of herpes. If you have ever had chicken pox your blood will show antibodies against this infection. If you were in fact infected with HSV type 1 or 2 blood work will show that you have antibodies against it. Unfortunetly it won't tell you when you became infected with it. Unlike chicken pox however, HSV can be recurrent, meaning you are susceptible to have an outbreak at any time in your life. Some people get outbreaks two to three times a year. There are medications to help suppress outbreaks and to better manage them.