hsv antibodies

i've read that if someone has cancer or hiv or something that compromises their immune system they take longer to produce antibodies...  So does a healthier person develop hsv  antibodies faster ? I guess what I am asking is how come some people test positive after 6 weeks and some take alot longer.  At 15 weeks I tested negative with igg test,is that conclusive

[Verysaddude]

I can't answer your question about why some is faster than others...but if you tested negative at 15 weeks..your chances of having it are very very very very very very very very slim!

[tom52]

Well, not be a downer, but I tested negative via specific type blood test after 18 months of possible exposure. Then I had an IOB and tested positive with a swab culture.

It is my understanding that some people (about 10%) will test negative for the antibodies and no one has been able to explain to me why.

Have you ever had any sores?

[Verysaddude]

Tom, so it took longer than 18 months for you to have your 1st outbreak?

[tom52]

It took 18 months.  But I tested negative twice before my IOB.

[Verysaddude]

Is it possible that someone you were with after your encounter 18 months ago was positive? From what I have red, that is very unusual for someone to test negative after so long and actually have it....Does your blood test still say negative now?

[tom52]

Actually longer because the first encounter with my "source" of the virus was 8/06 and my last was 10/07. So it really took 32 months.

AND I had two negative blood test prior to my IOB in 4/09.   Go figure that.

Herps is a crazy thing. And I don't really mean that in a good crazy sort of way.

:(

[tom52]

I have not been with anyother person.

I have not had a blood test again after my lesion result was positve.

[jonasK]

Tom, did the swab culture show HSV-1 or HSV-2?  The false negative rate of the IgG tests is considerably higher for HSV-1 than HSV-2.

[tom52]

Swab tested positive for HSV2.
Blood test negative for HSV 2
Bloot test positive for HSV1.

Parnter is negative for everything via blood test.

Just know, that just because you test negative via blood test, it does not guarantee that you do not have the virus.  I know because this happened to me.