hsv exposure vs infection

I recently tested positive in a blood test for hsv 2. My reaction number was 7.0 but I haven't had any symptoms. I got the test bc my pap smear showed a cell change that was possibly associated with the virus. my physician is not fully willing to put me on medication for the condition because of my lack of symptoms. But I'm concerned of passing this on to people in the future. I was told that upwards of 95% of people exposed are not contagious because they don't have the active virus.

I'm pretty confused about my situation. Do I have herpes? Can I spread it? Does anybody have any insight on this kind of situation?

[gracefromHHP]

if your hsv2 igg is 7 then yes indeed you are infected and it's not likely to be a false positive with that result. do you recall your hsv1 igg result?  There's absolutely no such thing as just being exposed and therefore testing + on the blood tests. 100% of folks who have hsv2, shed the virus periodically and are potentially contagious to a partner. No idea where you read the fact you did about not having active virus - it's dead wrong.

have you read the free herpes handbook yet?  http://westoverheights.com/handbook.html


do you have a regular partner?

grace

[luellal]

I was net for hsv 1. I do not have a partner. My doctor told me that if I wasn't having outbreak symptoms, it was unlikely I was contagious but that there were two schism of thought for of.

Now I got I the impression that was pretty reactive. but I hard a blood test 7 months after I would have contracted it, which would have been 2 years ago now. it was completely negative. how do I know which one to believe? They were both blood tests. While getting the stdtests done, I was on my period as well, and he said that there's a chance these tests would be invalid. does any of this point to a false positive?

[petal130]

Your doctor sounds misinformed about herpes. Did you read the herpes handbook as Grace suggested?

No, having your period does not impact herpes blood testing.

You are at times contagious even if you never have an outbreak. It's called viral shedding and it's when the virus is active and hence can be transmitted, even without visible symptoms. It too is discussed in the herpes handbook.

So long as you had an IgG type specific blood test, and you're certain that the HSV2 value was 7.0, then as Grace stated you are positive.

[luellal]

Ill of course read the handbook. I just haven't had a chance to yet. thankyou for the information.

[gracefromHHP]

if you want peace of mind, get a herpes WB to confirm your hsv1 and hsv2 status. if your provider uses quest labs, it's test #34534.

do you recall what testing you had previously for herpes?  did you see the actual herpes test results at that time ?

[luellal]

I did some research on my previous testing. I did have IgG blood test. It was more than 8 months after the possible time of exposure. That test came up negative.

The test I just went through was the same test, but came up positive. I've been doing some research about what can cause inconsistencies in test results. (I do want to get retested, but think I'll try to wait a few months, since my insurance won't cover the WB test.) One of the things I found online (yes, I do realize that online searching isn't the most accurate place to get info sometimes) is that autoimmune deficiencies can cause false positive results. There's something about the wacky antibodies or lack there of. I'm obviously not sure about the why. But I found several people with immune deficiency that had been tested off and on and never got clear cut results.

I'm been battling streptococcus and/or staph infections in of my limbs (no where near my genitals or mouth) for the past year. The cause is unknown, but it's been very serious and scary. I'm wondering if that could effect the blood test?

I also contacted the men (it was a short list) that I could have gotten the virus from. There was only one person out of 4 that I couldn't find. They all got tested and came back negative. So either it's that one guy and that one time that I slept with him, even though it only takes one time, or there's some other explanation.

Is there anything to that possibility? I do realize that I might be grasping at straws at this point, but I just want to be sure of my situation.

[gracefromHHP]

have you contacted your insurance to see about getting the WB covered? confirmatory testing is usually covered if you ask for it.

[luellal]

Ok. So I just wanted to give you all an update on my experiences these past two weeks, in attempting to figure out whats going on with my HSV status. I have had:

Pap Smear (7 weeks ago) cell change associated with Herpes
3 HgG tests: 1 (18 months ago) non-reactive. 1 (6 weeks ago) 7.0 reactive. 1 (2 weeks ago) non-reactive
A swab test: Negative

This has left both my doctor an myself fairly confused. As of now, I have yet to have any symptoms that I can tell. I will say that I have had some unrelated health issues that have weakened my immune system and he was surprised that with my immune strength compromised, that I hadn't had a break out.

His final conclusion was basically that he didn't know if I had the virus or if I was contagious. I am not taking any suppressant medications (since I don't have any symptoms). But I am also not sexually active at the moment. When that changes, I'll revisit my plan of action (or lack there of).

Did you have any further recommendation about what I should do? I did check into the WB test with my insurance, and as of right now, they won't cover it unless my doctor requests it, and he won't recommend it.

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

Go to another dr!! Seriously you have had inconsistent tests why in the world won't he recommend the WB!!!!

[gracefromHHP]

well a lesion culture was worthless if you weren't having obvious symptoms at the time. no surprise that it was negative.

I have to wonder if your provider is ordering the right tests too?  Can you get copies of your last 2 tests that you've had recently to post here for me - e.g. hsv1 igg .43 and hsv2 igg 7.3 or whatever they are? thanks!

the herpes WB is the accepted confirmatory testing test for herpes. Encourage your provider to read the 2010 cdc herpes guidelines to better update themselves on why this test is helpful and worth requesting from your insurance when you have inconsistent results like this.