Is there such a thing as a 9.22 HSV 1 IgG result

[unsure7611]

A nurse at my OB/GYN's office told me today that I tested positive for HSV 1.  however, when I called back to seak to my doctor about it, my doctor was busy at another office and instructed another nurse to call me back to tell me that my results were "all negative".  I asked for a fax of the results:

Herpes I Ab.(IgG)  9.22 HI
Herpes II Ab.(IgG) 0.18
Herpes Simp.Ab.(IGM) (3) (See Below)

HSV Type 1 IgM Antibodies  <0.80
HSV Type 2 IgM Antibodies <0.80


I'm not sure if that first number is 0.22 or 9.22 - it was in bold and slightly blurred on the fax.  I think a 9.22 value would indicate a positive result (the reference is <0.90), so I am uncertain as to why my doctor would have had her office call to  assure me that I am "all negative".  (the panel also included Hepatitis and HIV results, all negative).

I asked the nurse, "are you sure, because I spoke with someone different today and I understood something very different."  The nurse said she had my chart right in front of her and that she was specifically instructed by my doctor to inform me that the results were negative.

I believe her, but I am confused by the value (and by the other nurse's initial interpretation of my results).


Is there such a thing as a 9.22 value?

[gracefromHHP]

odds are your hsv1 is oral and it's not unusual to get a few cold sores when you are a child and not again for a good long time ( if any ) and even more common is never having any obvious cold sores at all to know that you are infected.

the type specific herpes igg blood tests, like you had, are not affected by chickenpox.  

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm  has terrific info about oral herpes.  the older a child gets, the less likely they are to contract oral herpes from sharing cups from others. we don't recommend any testing for young children, it's not an issue for her until she's older and starting to be sexually active.

[unsure7611]

Grace, thanks for your reply.

I guess you can say it was a routine screening, after an unfortunate positive chlamydia result back in November.  I was involved with a man 20+ years my senior who was sterile (a cancer survivor), and did not practice safer sex.  After the diagnosis and treatment in the fall, I had panel after panel, culture after culture, to rule out exposure to anything else.  

I've never had a cold sore or blister as a teen or adult (I am 35 years old), although I do vaguely remember a small, painful bump at the corner of my mouth when I was about 4 or so.  I am of Caribbean descent, and I also vaguely remember my grandmother saying it was a "cold bump." (This is an extremely vague memory.)  Anyway, after reading the posts here I realize I could have been exposed as a child.  I also had chickenpox as a teen, not sure if that is related (I've read a bit about some sort of correlation, but I don't understand it that well).  

I have a young daughter, I am concerned about transmitting it to her (especially since I am unsure about how I got it).  I don't ever kiss her on or near the mouth, but I have shared cups with her in the past, and I can't remember the last time I denied her a "bite" of something I was eating :(

This is also the first time I've ever been tested for HSV.

[gracefromHHP]

many providers will say you are negative when you are only hsv1+. Unfortunately they don't seem to be aware that knowing your hsv1 status is just as important as knowing your hsv2 status :(

yes there is such thing as a 9.22 value.

was there a particular reason why you got tested or was it just a routine screening for you?

grace