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could the HSV 2 IgG >5.00 be wrong

March 2007 I found about my husband was having an affair, March 2008 I did blood work to see if I had any STD's because my husband was on his 2nd affair, No symptoms, just a suggestions from my dr. to get tested. SHOCKED (03/2008)  my test came back HSV 1 IgG 5.00.  I never had and still haven't (thank goodness) had ANY outbreaks, symptoms nothing.  Plus I just went through the most stressful 2 years of divorce.  Still nothing.  I made my former husband get tested in 2008 he tested HSV2 IgG <0.91.  So my doctor seems to thing I have had this a long time and my husband doesn’t.  Seriously what should I do?  I haven't had any more test done, no out breaks.  Just allot of worries.  How do I start a new relationship?  Do I have HSV 2?  Is there anyway this could be wrong?
27 Responses
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Avatar universal
so you got a negative lab result thats crazy, ill be getting checked again i want to see if my result is now negative... my first hsv2 was 5.00
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Avatar universal
wow thats crazy that u ended up being negative after all those tests have u recently gotten tested again???
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1174003 tn?1308160819
If you haven't done so already start your own post.  
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Avatar universal
How did my herpesselect HSV2 IgG come back >5 last month with never having any symptoms and this month HSV2 IgG came back on the same test as a .70? Everywhere I read states that >5 is a definite positive for infection and that it will never be a negative. Now I am confused because the lab results now show that I never have been exposed to it at all. Anyone have any ideas except for a lab error. Any diseases or syndrome out there that can cause this? Of course I will have another test done but for now its driving me insane. Igm's were negative both times for HSV 1 and 2 and HSV1 IgG was negative as well.... FYI.
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101028 tn?1419603004
I think it's well worth running it all past Terri. She is very involved with the testing and can if nothing else, confirm what the doc you saw said.  What's $15 more right?

grace
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Avatar universal
no, i did not get the WB.

i saw the local std guru.
the biokit was performed. about 15 minutes after they drew my blood, i was called back in. my result was NEGATIVE. i saw it myself: only one dot. there was then some discussion.
- yes, my results in the past contradict what they are now. as for any of that, he can't say. mentioned the possibility of labeling errors at doctors' offices or labs, specimens getting switched, etc. all he knows is my test, done in his office, shows negative. and that he'll vouch for. (me too; neither the specimen nor the lab tech left that room, and nobody else went in there after me.)
- he didn't seem to care a whit about the interferon.
- he is clearly in the group that thinks "seroreversion" means you never really had herpes at all. he said there is no such thing as clearing the virus. if you have it, you will always have positive antibodies.
- he said that he has NEVER had an asymptomatic patient w/ a negative biokit result, test positive on WB.
- he offered me a WB. said he does this whenever there are contradictory results. apparently, he must get permission from the state before he can send the specimen.  the test plus shipping is going to cost $186.50. the money is not really an issue, but i wonder if it's just throwing it away, given that no one in this position ever came back w/ a positive WB in his experience..

i am ok with just accepting these results. in all honesty, i have to admit that some of that is because it's an answer i like. another bit is, the biokit is pretty reliable:
Sensitivity - 96% (compared to viral culture and Western blot)
Specificity - 98% (compared to viral culture and Western blot)

grace, i appreciate your suggestion to post to terri (i respect her immensely, and the handbook is the BOMB!), but i don't see the point, as i have had one of the recommended tie-breakers, and tested negative. there are no studies on a population such as myself (on an acknowledged [and expensive] antiviral medication at time of possible exposure), so at best, i will just be a scientific anomaly or case study.  if i'm missing something, please, go ahead and point it out.
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Avatar universal
For a hsv2 Rapid Test provider in your area, call Biokit USA at 800-926-3353.  don't be surprised if no one near you has it - i'm in nyc and there were only 3 here; 2 private docs and one university health center std clinic.

i will continue to get tested, as i always have, because, imho, that's what a responsible adult does. just to be clear, any further testing at this point would be for the prospective partner's peace of mind/reciprocity in knowing who has what, NOT to prove my status to myself.  (as far as i am concerned, the three tests i had this yr say i am negative.)  and, i will continue to use the same safe sex practices i've always used.

on telling - one experience, telling the guy i was contemplating becoming intimate with at march 2008.  that ended that, PDQ, as he could not deal with the risk.  {don't freak out about this!!  his reaction was about him and his fears; not all people are going to react that way.  just understand that any rejection is a rejection of herpes (based in the supposed stigma) and not a rejection of the person you are!) in the year since, i dated a bunch, but nothing ever got beyond a few dates, so there was no need to tell.

no, i never took any meds.  no reason to, w/ no symptoms, nor anyone to protect.

nope, not hyperthyroid.  as i understand it, the studies that were done on cross-reactivity for the ELISA tests and biokit were primarily focused on other members of the herpes virus family, like vzv, cmv, or ebv.  there just aren't enough research $$$ to test for every conceivable thing that could cross-react.

i'm glad you got some hope.  i don't know how it will pan out for you, but i thought $10 for the biokit was well worth it.
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101028 tn?1419603004
I encourage you to post your saga to Terri Warren, the herpes expert here on medhelp. I see your original post on the std forum you thought you were posting to an expert but it didn't go thru properly.  Your situation would best be followed up on by her here on medhelp.

Did you ever get the WB done?

grace
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Avatar universal
I forgot to ask, do you by chance have a hyperthyroid?  I have my bouts with this being elevated and I'm wondering if that can cause these test to change.  I forgot to tell you it has been over a year since I did the last and only test, my doctor said there was no need to keep testing.  
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Avatar universal
WOW. that's incredible.  How does one get the biokit test?  After all you've been through will you continue to get tested?  I assume you never took any medication.  If I may ask, do you tell your partners about these tests?  I would have assumed after all the stress I've have in the past 2 years it would have caused an outbreak, plus you would think if I've had it at least before I was married, over 15 years, my ex would have contracted it also.  

I'm soooo very thankful you've replied, you give me hope.  
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Avatar universal
you ask, "could an hsv2 IgG of 5.0 be wrong?"
my answer to you is, yes.  it COULD.

grace is correct, 5.0 is above the potential false positive range.  but, doctors offices and labs are not infallible - mistakes occur (labeling, mixing up specimens, whatever).  

this is my story:
always hsv1 negative. last hsv2 negative 4/07.

2/28/08:  hsv2 – 5.87 (captia; labcorp)

3/17/08:  hsv2 – positive (herpeselect; mayo clinic)

wait a year, still never a single, solitary symptom (but plenty of stressors).

3/13/09:  hsv2 - <0.91 (captia, labcorp)

3/22/09:  hsv2 - 1.14  (herpeselect, cdc)

4/6/09:    hsv2 -  negative (biokit)

do i have an explanation? two false positives last year (involving 4 separate entities) would make me the unluckiest person in the world. but, it's either that or something in my blood was cross-reacting.  

if you are interested in pursuing it further, particularly given your lack of symptoms, you could have confirmatory testing done, with either biokit or the western blot.

good luck.
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101028 tn?1419603004
looks like finally it's posted right!

Your hsv2 is well over the potential false positive range. You have had hsv2 since before you met your hubby and never knew it most likely since he's testing negative.

grace
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Avatar universal
again my hsv 2 was removed
I was
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hsv 2 >           5.00
.
and
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hsv 1 <       0.90

he was
.
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hsv 2 <       0.90




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Avatar universal
Why can I not get this to up load correctly.

I was hsv 1 (5.0)

He was hsv 2 (<0.90)
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Avatar universal
:-(((  I was HSV 1  5.0

He was only tested for HSV 2 and was < 0.90

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101028 tn?1419603004
I'm still confused by how you've posted your test results. You've been posting them as your hsv1 igg being 5 and + and your husband's hsv2 igg being <.9 and negative.

Is your hsv2 + or -?  You've only listed your hsv1 results so far.

grace
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Avatar universal
I forgot to tell you, No I'm not taking any medication.  My doctor said not to take it until I have an outbreak, plus I haven't had a new partner overa year.  My ex husband was my only partner for 15 years and he was my last and it was over a year ago.  I'm scared to get back into the dating world much less tell someone I have something, HSV 2, but no out breaks.  I assume he, the ex, did not get it because he was tested after we had been together, at least 6 mths.  So he was lucky.  I just can't belive I am positive.  
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Avatar universal

Thanks you so much for replying.  Yes I'm the 5.0 positive.  I was married for 11 years and had been with only my husband for 15 years, the affaires started 2 years ago.  After the 2nd affair I decided to get tested.  Yes I did see his blood work from the lab.  We had these test done in 03/82008.  My doctor told me I most likely had this before I met my husband.  I just can't believe I've had it for this long and never ever had a problem.  Plus in the last 2 years I've had my mother, grandmother and grandfather pass away and deal with the affairs and divorce.  You would think the stress of all of that would have produced a breakout.  Could these tests be wrong?  Has anyone be diagnosed positive and never have an out break?

I apologize to all that have attempted to read my previous post but when I typed my post it had every thing correct and once I clicked the post comment, for some reason the neg and positive had been removed.  Thanks whatsok for your patience.
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874193 tn?1241172790
Sorry you have been going through all of this.

The one that was 5.0 is positive - according to your last post, that was HSV-2. If he tested negative for the same type, then you probably had it prior to being with him and didn't know it or have any outbreaks. Given that neither of you knew about it, how scary that he was out there having affairs and potentially spreading it around - thankfully for those women, he didn't get it, though i bet you're pissed that you have it and he doesn't - i don't blame you. Did you see his actual results or did he just tell you that?

A person can't just be a "carrier" but not have it.

As for future relationships: I hope you are taking the medication. This will be the best way to protect your partners. Make sure to have protected sex with a condom, avoid sex during an outbreak if you have one, and inform your partners if you intend to develop a more meaningful relationship. The "keepers" will understand and be able to openly discuss it with you in a supportive way - that's how u sort out the men from the boys at the outset. Also be supportive of them if they do not know the facts and help them to understand how low their risk is (if you are on medication and using protection and not having an outbreak) ... they may turn into keepers!

Right now all of this is very upsetting, but as you learn more, you will find you can have a healthy normal relationship after discovering you have HSV-2.

Good luck and please confirm if your last post was the correct one.
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Avatar universal
You are unintelligible.
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Avatar universal
I give up my HSV 1 was neg 0.90 and  HSV 2 was pos 5.0 for me

he only teste HSV 2 it was neg 0.90
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Avatar universal
AND again something is not uploding correctly, maybe user error.  Yet again I've posted this wrong...errrr

my test HSV 1 = 5.00

His test HSV 2 = <0.90

This was last year 03/2008
Neither one of us have ever had issues, problems or out breaks.  Could the test be wrong?  Can a person be a carrier only?  
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Avatar universal
You are negative for type 2. Positive for type 1.

Welcome to the majority.
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Avatar universal
Yet again I've posted this wrong...errrr

my test HSV 1 = 5.00

His test HSV 2 = <0.90

This was last year 03/2008
Neither one of us have ever had issues, problems or out breaks.  Could the test be wrong?  Can a person be a carrier only?  
Helpful - 0
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