hsv igm labs

Hello,
I went for a complete std testing in jan and everything came back normal. I never went before and I developed this phoboia over herpes. I have been with the same person for about 1.5 years now. HSV IGM Type I was <0.8 (negative) and HSV IGM type II was <0.8 (negative). HSV IGG was 0.12 (negative). My doc didn't think it was useful to test for type I IGG, bc that wasn't a typical std.
This mth (march 18th) I went to my primary doctor to test for HSV I IGG. The result was <.91 (negative). The lab automatically did the HSV I/11 IGM combination and it came back 1.91, I believe (positive). She then tested for HSV II IGG which also came back <.91 (negative) I was so worried and concerned I went to the hospital to get the breakdown of IGM to see which one I was exposed to, according to my doc. ( I have read all the forums about the igm is typically inaccurate).
I got the results yesterday and HSV I IGM was 1:20 and HSV II IGM was 1:20 ( no antibodies detected) what would you make of this?
A false positive IGM?
I thought for a second it could be possible that I was no longer in the "acute" phase andthats why the igm is normal? But is the pssible in about a 2 week time period?
Thank you

[gracefromHHP]

there was no reason to repeat your igm testing. as you already have discovered from reading prior posts, the igm isn't recommended testing and shouldn't be ordered on you.

your igg's are negative which is the only answer you need.

has your partner been tested to know their status?

grace

[bkbkbkgirl]

yes. he was tested w\hen we first met. He is negative for hsv II IGG but positive for hsv I IGG ( although has never had a cold sore). The lab did HSV I IGM and HSV II IGM which were both negative as well. But if i were exposed  sometime between January and now, hypothetically, would it be possible my IGM labs would go back to normal in that 2 week window b/c they are no longer in that "recent exposure phase"? Sorry, but I am really trying to get over this fear I have. Any additional information I would greatly appreciate it.

[bkbkbkgirl]

the lab was reported as <1:20 ( no antibodies detected). It isnt 1.2

[Mistakeguy789]

We don't use IgM at all.  The results don't matter because the test is flawed.  It cross reacts with other things and just generally is off.  What matters is your IgG testing which was negative.

[bkbkbkgirl]

i thought i read from one of the other doctors that it doesnt cross react with other viruses, ie. chicken pox virus. Is that correct?

[Mistakeguy789]

Why are you disputing what I say?  You have read and were told by us that it is worthless.  So what does it matter if it does or doesn't cross react with other viruses?  Which it does cross react to other viruses.  It doesn't matter what it cross reacts with it does and thats what matters.  It's why the test isn't to be used.  Below is a link that talks about the IgM testing.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusiion-over-other-IgM-Herpes-posts/show/248394

[bkbkbkgirl]

sorry, I wasnt DISPUTING your expertise but rather getting mroe reassurance for myself. I have read that post before and it does say that th tests do not cross react with other viruses, ex herpes zoster aka chicken pox. Please do not take offense to this, but im just seeking satisfaction. Did you mean other viruses outside the herpes "family" ?

[bkbkbkgirl]

also, i just saw a post by Dr. Edward Hook and he said that transmission is not that common? about 1 : 1000. Is that true? I really thought hsv 1 and 2 were extremely contagious. And, it could also be transmitted via saliva. Please clarify

[gracefromHHP]

no they aren't "extremely contagious" actually.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm  is a terrific site with info on oral herpes for you and your partner to read so that you can lower your chances of contracting hsv1 from your partner.

positive igm results are absolutely meaningless. The current CDC 2010 herpes guidelines advise against using the test on adults and your providers should update their herpes testing knowledge accordingly.

[bkbkbkgirl]

if he has never had a cold sore could i still get hsv 1??

[gracefromHHP]

yes you can. he still sheds the virus even though he doesn't get obvious cold sores. this is covered in the link I posted too :)

[bkbkbkgirl]

i just read that. thank you. I know of couples where one person gets reoccuring cold sores but the other has never had one, that they know of, in their lifetime? Does this happen? Also, in terms of oral sex,  how possible is it to transmit if he doesnt get a cold sore?

[gracefromHHP]

whether or not you'll get obvious cold sores or not has a lot to do with genetics more than anything.

you still shed the virus even if you don't get obvious cold sores. There is the same amount of active virus on the skin when shedding as there is when there are obvious sores.

[bkbkbkgirl]

this worries me. I thought i read that passing genital to oral is not that easy to do. Is passing oral to genital the same? not easy? what do you suggest doing? a dental dam 100% of the time since he never had a cold sore and we both wouldnt know?

[gracefromHHP]

it's up to you and your partner to decide what precautions to take for oral sex.  

[bkbkbkgirl]

so, if most people, about 50-80% of people have hsv 1, why isnt there an equal number of  people who have it gentially? or do they?

[gracefromHHP]

even though it seems like just about everyone has hsv1 genitally any more, it still prefers the oral area over the genital area.

[bkbkbkgirl]

im confused by your last comment. please clarify

[gracefromHHP]

the rates of hsv1 genital infections are increasing but it still is less likely to infect the genital area than the oral area.

make more sense?

[bkbkbkgirl]

yes thank you lol. And thank you very much for answering my questions. I always felt my doctors would give me quick/general answers. no matter what the topic was, and it would only leave me with more questions. You are helping me get over my fears  and this has been something i have been dealing with for quite some time. So thank you :)

[gracefromHHP]

we are always here if you think of more questions :)

[bkbkbkgirl]

ok so another question i thought of. I know we all keep saying IGM IS INACCURATE, however i just want to rule out all possibilities. I know, typically, your body creates IGM antibodies to a virus and then sometime later( not sure of how much time?) your body creates IGG antibodies. Is it possible from my original post about being tested 1/11 and having my iGM and IGG negative to possibly have been exposed 3/11 which is why my IGM combination test came back positive? I only went back to the doc b/c i wanted to test for HSV 1  since the doc in jan did not. As mentioned above, the day i got the results for this IGM combination i went to this hospital to test for  the breakdown of HSV 1 IGM and HSV 2 IGM and it came back , no antibodies detected. My question is: If i was exposed, Is it possible that my IGM went back to normal in like a weeks time and thats why the breakdown came back normal? i just dont know how long this "acute"phase lasts.
As mentioned above i was tested for HSV igg in january and then again my doctor tested HSV 1 igg and HSV 2 igg, both negative. My d oc made me nervous when she said come back in 2 months bc all antibodies would be settled by that time

[gracefromHHP]

no, igm doesn't go away in a week like that.

[bkbkbkgirl]

ok so lets say the day after i got the results in jan18th ish, i was exposed. Could it be possible that the IGM in ,march was at the tail end of acute phase and thats why it went back normal that following week? and that being said, the doc in march did igg test for both hsv 1 and 2 whcih was negative. so, hypothetically, if i was exposed the day after i got all the negative results in jan, would i have had igg antibodies already too? i hope this isnt confusing

[gracefromHHP]

honestly, a + igm isn't worth all this thought over.

[bkbkbkgirl]

so you dont think its worth going in 2 months to retest everythign again? Considering i already had my hsv 2 igg twice and hsv 1 (all negative),,, i just want to rule out everything bc this fear really has gotten to me

[gracefromHHP]

your partner doesn't have hsv2. why retest later?

[bkbkbkgirl]

i know.... he doesnt.... and i tested negative in jan ( about a year after we were together) but i guess i had the phobia of cold sores ( hsv 1) and wanted to see if i was ever exposed which is whhy i went in march. But based on the timing and results, i wanted to see if it was more than likely a false positive, you thinkso? I just need to put this all in an educated perspective bc i have to get it out of my head.

[gracefromHHP]

I wouldn't bother with any further testing at this point. you've had no symptoms. You know who has what so you can make decisions together as to if you want to change anything about your sex life from here on out.

[bkbkbkgirl]

are you basing ur comment bc i havcent had any symptoms or because of my results?? also, when you refer to possible changing anything about our sex life , do you mean bc he has hsv1 ( cold sore virus)?

[gracefromHHP]

yes, you know he has hsv1 so you need to talk about if you want to take precautions against possible transmission to your genital area through oral sex or not.

[bkbkbkgirl]

i understand. but based on the results would my results work out this way if i was exposed to hsv1?  ie, jan neg for hsv 1 igm ... march negative  hsv1 igg... igm combination positive.... 1 week later igm 1 and 2 breakdown negative.

[gracefromHHP]

I already answered this for you the first time you asked it.

[bkbkbkgirl]

i know igm testing isnt accurate but i would like to know how long the igm antibodies would stay elevated if someone was exposed to either hsv 1 or 2. The report from the lab say about 5 weeks from exposure. Is that right? and how soon after exposure would your body make igm antibodies?

[Mistakeguy789]

Let go of igm.  You are not "exposed" to HSV.  You either get it or not.  Time to let go of the IgM results.

[bkbkbkgirl]

i would just like to know for my own piece of mind. Any idea?

[bkbkbkgirl]

i was using the word "exposure" in reference to "time" when you contracted the hsv virus