equivocal HSV 2 igG test result

Hi.I posted back in november asking about this and still have a concern.i was first tested in october with a result of HSV 2 1.02 then tested again a few weeks later and received the same result of HSV 2 1.02
I havent noticed any blisters or anything.I was just tested again to see if i can get a definitive positive or negative result from my dr.my results now at the end of april are still equivocal HSV 2 1.06.It worries me that the number has gone up slightly but it has been at least 7-8 months since possible exposure and still confused.When i last posted i got helpful information suggesting i am really negative.
My question is does it matter that my result went up a little?does this suggest I may really be positive?Also if it is still believed I am negative how can I find out for sure,with certainity?I want to reassure my boyfriend(hes negative)that I am ok.I hope this makes sense.any response and help would be appreciated.thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

nope, doesn't matter at all that your negative went up a little.

did you ever get your partner tested?

grace

[scaredworriedconfused]

yes.they were negative.

[gracefromHHP]

time to put this to bed then. you don't have herpes and there's no way it was a recently acquired infection. you are negative.

grace

[scaredworriedconfused]

Thank you.I believe that as well.How do I convince my boyfriend of this as well?He still thinks we dont know for sure and isnt fully comfortable with that fact which is understandable because he wants to protect himself....should i suggest a western blot to my dr?

[Mistakeguy789]

Let him read these forums.  If he doesn't believe our thoughts you can post in the Herpes or STD expert forums and have a Doctor/NP who are experts in STD's respond to the question.  I don't think you can get much better then that.  A WB is a little expensive if you ask me to prove it to your BF.  See if he will listen to one of the MD's / NP's who is expert in the STD field.

[scaredworriedconfused]

ok thank you.i will try that to put his mind at ease with the whole situation.

[Mistakeguy789]

Let us know what we can do to help.  You have some pretty knowledable people here helping you including Grace.  Grace is in the medical field and also has HSV so she knows a few things about it.  

Hope your BF can get over this pesky little virus.  If he fell in love with you then he loves you for who you are.  Not someone mircospohic virus.  

[scaredworriedconfused]

yes true, but according to gracefromHHP I dont really have herpes.Im glad you can call it a pesky little virus to me its not.its a life changing thing.its something you have to live with the rest of your life,not like a cold.I appreciate your help along with the help of this site i just dont appreciate the wording as "pesky little virus"
thank you.

[dabimbo]

im 51 just getting over a very severe outbreak swollen lymph nodes, flu, sore throat etc lesions no other partner in 15yrs my result hsp1 hsp2 both positive husband goes in for test pos hsp 1- hsp 2 equivocal he,s leaving me saying i,ve cheated when i know i havent

[scaredworriedconfused]

Hi grace. sorry to ask another question it's just worry. So I spoke with my new doctor with whom i received my latest equivocal result 1.06 from and she had me come back in to do a confirmatory test.she said it is very odd for me to have multiple equivocal results and that they do not normally do these confirmatory tests.she then proceeded to tell me that hopefully we can get me some good news that i'm in fact negative,like you said or that i just may not have a good immune sytem for it yet whatever that means?! my last question is this...
is her scenario of bad immune sytem even possible? I mean could this be an option, that i havent built up enough antibodies because of my immune system?or should i be able to expect the negative result like we have talked about?any response could help.thank you so much.

[gracefromHHP]

equivocal is negative if enough time has passed. You waited long enough to test. you are negative. there is no need for any more testing. your immune system is just fine - it's your providers who aren't educated properly on the blood tests and how to read them.

grace

[scaredworriedconfused]

ok.thank you so much.so ill be expecting a negative result in about a week when my results are in and can finally stop worrying about the what ifs.i appreciate your help so much.youve really helped put my mind at ease and provide better information than i have been receiving from these doctors.thanks again!

[pinky1988]

I recently went to the dr. to have standard std testing. i had been raw and burning vaginally, no sores or bumps..... my herpes test came back positive!!!! the nurse with whom i spoke couldn't really tell me ANYTHING! she told me my result was 1.06. what does that mean? 1.06 on a scale of what? i know nothing about this disease and my partner said he was recently tested and has nothing. but i was having symptoms of something.... they gave me medicine and those symptoms have yet to go away so i guess i really do have herpes.... i just don't know what to do now. this was the 1st time me and my new partner had sex but i've been seeing him for a while. within a week i went and got tested because i became very raw.... i'm so scared and i don't know how to deal with this. how do you live with this disease? and what do the numbers mean? whats a 1.06? they said the cut off is 1.09????? do i have HSV 2? HELP!

[scaredworriedconfused]

I got my new results back from the last test they did.the nurse told me it came back positive.im not sure exactly which test it was but she said it was an inhibition test.i was really expecting a negative result with all the information i have read and received from you as well.i'm even more confused.so this means i do in fact have hsv 2 no question?could it be wrong?the nurse said no.i would appreciate any feedback you may have.thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

there should be a percentage with the inhibition assay. can you call tomorrow and ask them what it was?

grace

[scaredworriedconfused]

hi grace.I called my dr office and am just waiting to hear back from them.i was reading some information about inhibition tests and read somewhere that theyre hard to interpret sometimes too because they dont allow a large enough number or margin for what is positive,or something to that effect.could it be possible i'm really negative still or should i give up and face i have this?it just seems to odd to me that last possible exposure was back in end of august/early september and im still showing up equivocal after 7 months(my last hsv 2 igg test).also i still have not had any outbreaks to my knowledge and if i had without realizing wouldnt my hsv 2 igg result already be a true positive by now?

[scaredworriedconfused]

Hi grace.I still have not recieved the information regarding a percentage or not with my inhibition assay.We are playing phone tag which is extremely frustrating.While I continue to contact them can you please ease my mind a little...is it at all possible im really negative? I still find it odd that i continue to be equivocal after so long. From what ive read that indicates negatively,like you have also suggested. I am going to call again in the morning and hopefully be able to speak to a person.I might just make an appt if i cant get ahold of anyone just to get the info.also should i get a western blot to sort it out?what info do i need to give my dr to be able to get that? thank you.

[scaredworriedconfused]

I finally spoke with a nurse and there was no percentage or numerical value according to her it just says inhibition assay positive thats it.I would appreciate it if you can respond and let me know your thoughts.i have an appointment set up soon and will be asking for the western blot.

[gracefromHHP]

at this point I"d pay to post to Terri Warren about this. She's much better with interpreting inhibition assay's than I am.

grace

[scaredworriedconfused]

im going to suggest western blot to my dr when i go to my appt next week.i know shes not entirely up to speed on this based on earlier conversation so what information do i need to bring with me to help things go smoothly?isnt there a test number for it or something?thank you for listening.

[scaredworriedconfused]

one last thing just a week ago i had what i thought was a bad yeast infection could it really be herpes? i was really red and sore some swelling and the white discharge.once i started over the counter yeast infection medicine my symptoms started to get better and completely went away 7 days after starting the medication.the only thing that kindof concerns me is that i also had what looked like a little cut kindof which may be due to the rubbing and dryness?what are your thoughts?can you experience cuts or blisters with yeast infections or does this sound more like herpes?

[gracefromHHP]

WB for herpes through most quest labs is 34534.

http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm  is a terrific link for your provider with info about the WB for herpes as well as how to obtain it if you don't use a quest lab that offers it.

[scaredworriedconfused]

ok thank you! hopefully my visit goes well and my dr will be able to get the wb

[scaredworriedconfused]

ok so my dr told me they dont even use western blot anymore.lol.she said the inhibition test was the best and that i am for sure positive.anyway some good did come out of the visit because she referred me to an std expert.i went to see him and he told me the inhibition assay isnt that reliable i guess because of the same numerical values as the reg herpeselect tests?anyway he had me take a biokit which came back with a a very faint dot.ive read that these are usually interpreted as negative.he said it would be best if i got the western blot and called it an equivocal result (great yet another equivocal result).he said i should be approved to get it done and will be able to get it sent off next week if i am.just wondering if anyone had any feedback as to the result of a faint dot on the biokit?and if my chances are good for a negative western blot?thanks in advance for any response

[gracefromHHP]

the inhibition test doesn't return with the same numerical results as the herpeselect does.  

usually a faint dot on the biokit is a negative. following up with a Wb is the best course of action .  

[scaredworriedconfused]

thank you.I'm praying i receive good news and have a negative western blot. waiting on the results is nerve racking! I think the signs are pointing to negative but im preparing for the worst. I appreciate all the information and help you give on this site.

[scaredworriedconfused]

well i got bad news.the western blot came back positive my dr said.im devastated.i cant understand how im not even showing a positive result with herpeselect igg tests after such a long time since possible exposure but im really positive.im really in shock.i wonder if my igg test will show positive now?ive never even had any herpes lessions to my knowledge.

[world78]

OMG, I'm following your post I thought your test Western blot will be negative. Be strong.

[gracefromHHP]

At this point any further questions about your testing should go to Terri Warren on the herpes expert forum here on medhelp. You have to pay to post there but this is far more her area of expertise than anyone here on this forum including me.

grace