given the wrong Herpes test - wrong results

[ShellyB123]

I recently got a positive diagnosis for Herpes II on what my Doctor told me was a Herpes Select test.  I was devastated to say the least for the last two months.  A couple of days ago I received a call by my OB/GYN telling me that they realized that I was just given a general Herpes test and that I may only have Oral Herpes and not Genital Herpes.  Now, she wants me to come in for another test that is type specific.  I am very upset at this inaccuracy and the psychological distress this has caused me.  Do I have any recourse because of this? Is this a common error?

Shelly

[gracefromHHP]

You can talk to the clinic manager and file a complaint with them about it.  Let them know that this is an area that the clinic needs more expertise in and let them know how angry you are about it.  I believe you can also file a complaint with your local health department about it too if you are in the US.  If you are thinking of legal ramifications about it all you'd have to ask the opinion of a lawyer which I am not.  


Once you get your type specific herpes igg blood test back you'll have a better idea of what your status is.  What caused you to get tested - was it just a routine std screening or did you have genital symptoms?

grace

[ShellyB123]

Good advice, thank you.  I was tested because my boyfriend recently told me that his previous girlfriend had genital Herpes and he had unprotected sex with her.  I have never had genital symptoms but I have gotten a cold sore, which I believe I contracted from my current boyfriend.  

[daisy315]

I know my response here is not particularly related to the question and is not directed at the Poster at all, but one part of this post made me sit up,it was the part where the OBD/GYN said it may ONLY be Oral Herpes I would like to point out that there is virtually no difference microscopically between Oral and Genital Herpes and although it may turn out to be HSV1 if you have this Genitally you are no less of a risk than if it were HSV2 and the same precautions would need to be excercised as far as sex is concerned,if it only presents on your mouth and lips you can still pass it to somone's Genitals via Oral sex ..... I do find it mildly irritating when Proffesional people treat HSV1 as if it's of no significance in comparison to HSV2 this to me is very worrying since the transmission rate of HSV1 both Orally and Genitally is most likley higher than HSV2 due to this attitude by both Doctors and people who have HSV1 ..... bottom line is there is NO good or bad Herpes they both carry the same risk of transmitting to others if care is not taken,the only difference is the location which by all accounts is where the stigma of HSV2 originates.....The issue I have with all of this is that's it's fine and perfectly acceptable to have Herpes blisters where they can be seen but it it's totally unacceptable to have the same thing where they are not seen regardless of whether it's HSV1 or HSV2 .....for that reason alone the Stigma of HSV2 will live on I'm afraid !!!
Which leads me to question people who have HSV1 do they tell partners "I have Oral/Genital Herpes but it's Ok because it's ONLY HSV1 not the dreaded bad one HSV2 so no worries,if that's the case then is it any wonder Genital HSV1 is overtaking HSV2 in stats.

Daisy  

  

[gracefromHHP]

Has your bf been tested to know if he even contracted his ex partner's herpes infection?

grace

[ShellyB123]

Yes, my boyfriend was tested at an Urgent Care for Herpes Select type specific.  His result came back positive for oral HSV1 and negative for HSV2.

I went to get re-tested first thing this morning and I made sure the tech drawing my blood was giving me Herpes Select test.  I will know in about a week what the results are and specifically what type of Herpes I may or may not have.

In the meantime, should I refrain from my boyfriend giving me oral sex at all in the future or only if he has a cold sore and vice versa?  The comment from daisy315 concerned me.

[gracefromHHP]

Your partner is hsv1+. Statistically he has it orally.

You have a cold sore yourself - statistically that is hsv1 orally too.  Oral sex isn't an issue for both of you - just don't perform it when you have an active cold sore present and vice versa.

Your bf doesn't have hsv2 so you know he didn't contract it from his prior partner ( as long as he was tested 4 months after the last time he had sex with her ). If he doesn't have hsv2, he can't give it to you.

grace

[ShellyB123]

I received my "Re-test" results back for the type specific HSV 2 and it came back negative for 2 and positive for 1.  So, they made a mistake last month and gave me a general test and said I was positive for 2 in error.  I told them how upset I was and how much distress this error has caused.  So, both my boyfriend and I have the same results.  Positive for 1 and negative for 2.  That was one of the oddest things that has ever happened to me. I'm glad I didn't end my relationship over this mis-information!

Shelly

[gracefromHHP]

I'm glad you didn't either :)  

grace