Accuracy of Tests

[ilam2008]

Doctors:

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

Late March I had unprotected sex with a male that claimed he had been tested the year before for stds and had no partners.
Few days after that encounter started to have itching, burning and vag soreness. Went to the doctor, had a full std panel done. All negative. Gave me some yeast medication to try that didn't really work but symptoms went away after a month.

Few weeks ago symptoms returned. Saw the doc yesterday- was negative for yeast/bv/trich and since I haven't had intercourse since march he didn't think std testing again was necessary. Decided to be on the safe side and tested with tstd.org on May 21st.
Wanted to know if the urine testing is as accurate as the vaginal swab for gonorrhea and chlymadia??
Does this sound like Herpes? Tested neg for HSV 1 & 2 Can you have herpes without having sores but have the symptoms that I have?

Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is no standard (e.g., FDA-approved) "DNA" test for those infections.  If that actually was done, it was a "home grown" test.  It might be quite accurate, but I really cannot comment on it; you will have to ask the clinic or provider who tested you.

BV doesn't cause irritation, just discharge with odor -- generally no itching etc.

You're much more likely to get helpful answers from the provider(s) responsible for your care than I can provide online.

[ilam2008]

Thank You for the quick response. I had DNA testing for trich/bv/yeast.
I got the results within a few hours. Is that the best test to have done or is there some other testing I should request for the bv panel?? Concerned then that perhaps the yeast or bv was missed.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You can be confident the negative test results so far are reliable.  Urine testing for chlamydia isn't quite as reliable as vaginal/cervical testing, but it's very close.

As far as herpes is concerned, your symptoms are not typical, but it is a possibility.  (Your symptoms are more suggestive of a yeast infection or other kind of vaginitis, and examination can easily miss those things; and not all yeast infections respond to the standard medications.)  It certainly is possible to have herpes without overt sores.  Most likely that's not the explanation for your symptoms.  But if you want even more assurance about herpes, you could have a blood test in a few weeks; i.e. at about 3 months after the sexual exposure.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD