went from 2.5 to less than 0.91 in three years

Grace your forum is a blessing, thank you. Facts:  no symptoms ever, im female. in june 2007,  i had unprotected sex and a 2.5 herpes positive test (LabCorp)  test, also  with another little bug that caused a discharge (can't remember what it was called) had to take antibiotics. no sex of any kind since then at all. no symptoms.   i retested for herpes HSV II type- specific AB, IGG with labcorp recently (sept 2010) , now result is " < 0.91,"  with the little arrow in front of the 0,  LabCorp says their machine doesn't give numbers if it's less than, it just says "< " ...but  my doctor circled "equivocal. " i know equivocal  's better than positive! but, is it possible i was exposed to genital herpes,  developed the antibodies to fight it, but didn't get infected, and do not carry the herpes 2 virus? why the 2.5.. was 2.5 high? am i really negative? i'll get retested, but im scared.  
Also, im female,  have never, never had any symptoms in my life, not even after the positive test,  i'm 50--- also, im unaware if any    partners ever had it, but i have been celibate since then. . . thanks again for your compassion and time.

[gracefromHHP]

your first results were in the low positive range and needed confirmed with additional testing. with your 2nd tests being negative, odds are you really don't have hsv2.  if you want, you can confirm with a herpes WB blood test but it's a low likelihood you really have hsv2.

grace

[Healthadvisory]

many of the herpes tests are not reliable, causing many false positives.

[Mistakeguy789]

Few facts as I won't read your results.

You are never exposed to the virus you either have it or you don't.  So the test will never be that way.  The less than means they have no nothing above that number.  In this case please remember that in order to cut down on confusion and possible calls they stopped giving 0.21 or 0.11 because people thought they had a little antibody in their system.  The answer is a 0.1, 0.0 ,0.22 is all the same negative.  

I will let grace handle the rest.

[Still_Worried_]

Was your Labcorp test an IgG test?  IgM is useless.

Equivocal is typically negative.  Your 2.5 is most likely a false positive.  If you wanted further confirmation, you could take another IgG test & if it's negative or equivocal, chalk it up as a negative & move on.  

[Mistakeguy789]

I would advise that you take from other posters a grain of salt with their interpretation of results.  The only one on our forums who is qualified to read results is grace.  Which I would advise you to listen.  She is trained in reading those tests.  

[gracefromHHP]

your first results were in the low positive range and needed confirmed with additional testing. with your 2nd tests being negative, odds are you really don't have hsv2.  if you want, you can confirm with a herpes WB blood test but it's a low likelihood you really have hsv2.

grace

[celibatefromnowon]

Grace, if i read your answer correctly, you're saying that the " <0.91" means negative? that 's why the < is there?  are you saying that Labcorp really doesn't specify how low the reading is and just puts "<"? why would i have a low positive at 2.5---- is it possible to be exposed, then your body doesn't catch it because it fought it off? when you say low likelihood--- how low? why is it still possible?  thanks again. i don't want to test again! can i have a false negative? thanks!!!

[celibatefromnowon]

thanks for your input. are you saying i was never have been exposed? but why the 2.5? are you saying that once you have contact with a carrier, you definitley get it? i so wuoldn't be surprised that my fling had the virus and didn't tell me. is 2.5 really a low positvie? my results say "high " next to it. when race says "odds are" what are the odds thanks SOOOOOOO much this is a great site very compasionate

[Mistakeguy789]

Let me clearify my post and some of grace as well.  

If the result comes back with the lass than (<) sign that means it was negative that it was lass than the equivicial result of anything above a .91 (.92 for example).  Sometimes the test doesn't come with a 0.xx number anymore because it causes confusion to some people who read it and say "I have some of the antibody in my system) that isn't the case.  That negative number will change each time you run the same sample of blood 100 times.  

Herpes isn't like some viruses that you "get exposed" to it and it is fought off.  Herpes is either you have it or you do not.  For example if I have herpes I have herpes and will have the anitbodies in my system.  If I don't have herpes but I was with someone who did it I may have been "exposed" to it but I won't have an anitbody response because I don't have herpes so the test will be negative.

Just because you are with someone who has herpes doesn't mean you will catch it.  Not every expsoure to it will lead to infection.  The thing about herpes is that it has to be active on the skin to be transmitted.  There has to be heat and friction to massage the virus into the body for it to get in there.  Which is something you get from sex.  But Herpes is not always on the body.  It is only on the body when it reactivates but it isn't like every day at 2:00 AM the virus turns on and is on the body.  

Bottom line is this:  You don't get exposed and fight Herpes off.  You either get Herpes or you do not from an exposure.  Your test will not show you were exposed to it and you don't have it.  You have it or you do not.  There is no inbetween.  

As far as the test goes you tested positive but like all tests sometimes they will have a false positive for whatever reason.  You re-tested negative.  The only way to prove you have or do not have it at this point is a western blot test which is the gold standard in Herpes testing.  Chances are though you don't have Herpes.  Follow Grace's advice.

[celibatefromnowon]

grace basically says i don't likely have it...right... ??  and that western blot would confirm. right...  how about another Labcorp IGG--- is that worth it? or can i rely on my negative result... i kind of want to quit while i'm ahead LOL! (lots of laughs) what is a  "for whatever" reason you can have a false positive--- obviously  you're saying that exposure is not a reason for false positive... that you can be exposed and not catch it or have it. but is 2.5 a high result or in between or low positive? thanks again! oh to the other person stillworried, i had IGG test done twice.

[celibatefromnowon]

Im assuming this is my original post. im sorry for bothering you Im going to see if adding a comment is the same as adding to the original post.

[gracefromHHP]

I did bump up the false positive post so it was right on the front page for you. did you see it? it has my icon next to it - not many posts that have the kitty as the icon :)

yes this is the way to continue to add to this post - thanks!

[celibatefromnowon]

Sorry Grace when you say front page what do you mean? you have your icon but it only shows your profile. if it makes you feel any better, i am an attorney and i answer stupid questions for afflicted people all day long , with great patience when possible, so i'll be getting my payback for what im doing to you.

at the top of forum, it has my origianl question. when i click on "FORUM" it starts with unrelated queisons--- there's no false poitives discussion. im so sorry. maybe you can have an asistant hnswer. but the only thing that your kitty clicks to is your profile, wh ich indicates that you are 108 years old lol

[Mistakeguy789]

It is on the main forum.  I will rebump have her icon.  It will also say poll.

[Mistakeguy789]

Direct Link:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724

[gracefromHHP]

lol on the payback!!!

[celibatefromnowon]

Very very informative with percentages, thankyou!