help understanding test results

I have been reading these posts for nearly 20 hours now .  The test results were as followshsv IgG index value interpertated 1.10 positive for 1gG antibodies to hsv 1.
hsv IgG index value index value 1.10 positive for IgG antibodies,
hsv IgM antibodies 0.64.
hsv IgM index value interpreted.  /= 1.10 positive for antibodies for hsv 1/2 IgM.

This is the information in the interpretation column then in the column taht says"your numbers" it say 5.0 for bot hsv 1 and 2 and IgM 0.64.  I thought that the interpretation column was the interpretation of my actual results but then I wouuld not know what the 5.0 and 0.64 ( IgM ) is for.  I have NEVER had any signs but I have had an occasional cold sore the last being over 9 years ago.

Please help!

[gracefromHHP]

just to clarify - your hsv1 is 5, your hsv2 is 5 or did you only receive 1 result for them both ?

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

In the future keep everything in one thread.  If we don't respond to your post please reply using the word bump and we will get back to it.



Your results are confusing.  It looks like nothing for HSV-2.  Can you re copy your results.  Type like this hsv-1 igg 1.13 hsv-2 igg 4.33 replace the numbers I used with the numbers on your paperwork.  

The IGM test is flawed.  If you have cold sores HSV-1 is going to be positive.  

[gracefromHHP]

actually this originally was posted in someone else's post so this poster starting their own post was the appropriate thing to do.

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

Whoops.  Man I need more caffeine!

[crazyforanswers]

Dear Grace,
both test scores were 5.  I think my dr. did both the IgG and IgM test.  when I asked her about that she said the IgG would show previous infections and the Igm would show current infections.  I have never had an outbreak but did have a could sore about 9 years ago.  The results of the Igm test was .64.  I asked about the interpretation data and was told by me dr,  that inforamtion was used as a standard means of measuring the results nothing else.

Is it possible tohave the same number for hsv I and hsv II?  My dr. said the numers were high but everyone that takes the test in her office if positive with numbers higher than 5.  

[gracefromHHP]

so you had 2 separate results - 1 for hsv1 that was 5.0 and 1 for hsv2 that was also 5.0  ( or perhaps read as > 5.0 for them both? ).  just making sure that you had a type specific test and not a non-type specific test.

I don't need the range results posted - just your actual results.

[crazyforanswers]

I think so, I asked my dr. today and she she "thought" it was but the results were   type 1 >5.0  and type 2 >5.0.  Both the Igm and IgG.  Is it normal to have the same results, and everyone that takes the results to be positive with what i was told were high numbers?  I asked taking the test over and she said she did not see a need and tha is why she did not like giving the test because of the way people respond.  

From reading the threads it appears everyone has two different results for type 1 and 2, since I have the same number, is it possible to have type 1 genitally or vice versa?  The only thing I do no that I have two fever blisters in my life , one was during basic training and the other about 9 1/2 years ago.  

[crazyforanswers]

I forgot to ask,  what does .64 IgM really mean , I knoe you have stated over and over that the test should not be used but since it is does that number really mean I do not have the infection.  My dr. went on to tell be ( actually confuse me more) that just because you have the virus you may not have the infection.  She used an analogy of having the flu that not having it.  Your body builds up antibodies against it.  I then aasked her if i had genital herpes or not and she responded by saying " you carry the virus but not the infection"  isn't that the same thing?

[gracefromHHP]

well the igm test was worthless and of no meaning.

having results >5  just means that they are well over the potential false positive rates and no real reason to list results >5.   the results aren't worrisome or anything like that.    

you know your hsv1 is oral with your fever blister history. odds are your hsv2 is genital.

[crazyforanswers]

so is there a difference between the virus and the infection or that simply means you only have the infection when there is an outbreak?  or there any trials that are occuring, any medication that I can take to cure this?  

[petal130]

No, you have herpes, all the time, for life. The only time you are contagious is when you have an outbreak, or when the virus randomly "sheds" - meaning it is active and you can transmit it, even though you are asymptomatic.

Nope, no cure for herpes. Doubtful we'll see one anytime soon. There aren't cures for viruses. But the antivirals are very effective at suppressing the virus, causing less frequent outbreaks and shedding.

Become educated even further by reading the Herpes Handbook.
http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html

[crazyforanswers]

Have you heard of Lectroject.  I have been readoing about this.  Are there indication when the virus is shedding

[petal130]

Quackery. Anything that says it cures herpes is plain bs.

No, one does not know when they are shedding - the whole gist to viral shedding is there are no symptoms. The handbook goes into detail about the average frequency of it.

[crazyforanswers]

I  read the handbook and believe it or not I think I feel better.  Thanks

[petal130]

That's good to hear! I have genital herpes - it really takes a seat far far back on the bus in my life. Education is key with herpes. It's really small potatoes in the scheme of life, and nothing but a pesky skin condition.

[crazyforanswers]

since my dr. could not tell me with certainty that it was a type specfic test, should I get tested again or since the measurments were above the range for a false positive, it is clear that the results sre positive for hsv2.  Are al IgG test type specific?  

[Mistakeguy789]

I wouldn't retest.   I would go to the office and get a copy of the actual paper results and get us the info off them so we can make sure you are reporting them correctly.  But really no need for more testing at this point if they read like you posted as you are in fact positive.

[gracefromHHP]

lectroject is a waste of money.  it's pretty much a 9 volt battery.  it used to be popular about 10 years ago and I never knew of anyone who bought it that felt that it made any difference for them who posted about it on the boards.

up to you if you want to test again. if you pay to test through healthcheckusa.com or tstd.org or a similar online testing place where you order up your own test, get it done and they email you results in 48 hours, you'll have your results to cut and paste easily if you want to consider that as an option since your own provider seems rather knowledgeable about what they ordered on you.  I certainly agree with mistakeguy that getting a copy of your igg test results to see for yourself is a good idea for starters.

[crazyforanswers]

both Igg test said >5, and I really do think i was not given a type specfic test and perhaps the result are from the hsv I because my provider could not tell me whether she order a type specific test.  She only knew she ordered he test but was not familiar wit what type of test the Lab used. i also asked her about a vaccine a read about dl5-29 by Avant Immuno therapeutics of needham which affect the immune cells called CD8 T.  as well as the Delta PK vaccine.  she did not know wnaythng about these and admitted that se was not really abreast with std education and research.  I went on to aks her to furhter explan to me how both dl5-29 and delta PK hike the production of the CD8 T cell protein called interferon gamma and how does that relate to hsv II. Again she told me shhad not heard anything about that.  

[gracefromHHP]

well if you got 1 result for hsv1 and 1 result for hsv2 ( and not just 1 result to cover them both ) then you did have a type specific herpes test done.

most of the vaccines are either in limbo or didn't work out. I don't keep up with them until they get to phase 3 trials. you might want to check out the herpes news folder on the herpes homepage for more info on the ones you are asking about.

[crazyforanswers]

Is it normal to have the same result for both.  Everyone that has posted results seem to have to numbers.  i called the lab and again could not get a clear answer, i think I will leave part alone.

[gracefromHHP]

there's no real reason to list results over 5.0 so the lab you used listing them both as being greater than 5 doesn't mean that they are the same, it means that they are both over 5.  one might actually be 6.9 and the other actually 8.4 - they are over the false positive cut off so no real reason for the actual numeric results. does that make sense?