False positive HerpeSelect IgG Possible

[WorriedAgain]

My original post:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/334425

Talk about confusing!!

I just had another HerpeSelect HSV1 HSV2 Elisa and it came back NEGATIVE for HSV2??

Here are my past blood tests:

1996-ish
2 herpes Western Blots (WB) were negative for HSV2 and positive for HSV1. (Because of the girl I dated a girl with typed HSV2 for 2 years. She was a nurse and we were careful. I waited 4 months and 1 year.)

2004
Western Blot = Same results

2005
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative

01/2006
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 5.0
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = <.90

03/2006
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 3.5
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = <.90

06/2006
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = 6.0.

11/05/07
EX had a negative IgG

11/12/07
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 4.5
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = NEGATIVE = <.90

What the....?

Thoughts???

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I cannot explain it.  As I said above, have a Western blot.

"I get tested regularly because I am single."  Most experts, including me, don't recommend such regular routine testing.

I won't have any further comments, except would be happy to comment on your WB results if they are in any way confusing.

[WorriedAgain]

The June 2006 was NEGATIVE.

I took another one on 10/31/07.

HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG done. I came back POSITIVE at >6.0

Then I took one Monday 11/12/07:

HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 4.5
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = NEGATIVE = <.90

[WorriedAgain]

(I get tested regularly because I am single. Active but not a player.)

Got the above post mixed up - here are my tests:

1996-ish
2 herpes Western Blots (WB) were negative for HSV2 and positive for HSV1. (Because of the girl I dated a girl with typed HSV2 for 2 years. She was a nurse and we were careful. I waited 4 months and 1 year.)

2004
Western Blot = Same results

2005
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = <.90

01/2006
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 5.0
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = <.90

03/2006
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive = 3.5
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = <.90

06/2006
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = Negative = 6.0.

11/05/07
EX had a negative IgG

11/12/07
HerpesSelect HSV1 IgG = Positive  = 4.5
HerpesSelect HSV2 IgG = NEGATIVE = <.90

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm confused by the 06/2006 results.  Is there a typo there?  "Negative" and 6.0 don't make sense.  Maybe you meant positive?  If so, most likely that result is the wrong one, whether due to some sort of technical glitch in testing, or a mixup of your blood specimen with someone else's.

Why did you keep testing so often?  Why did you keep going after the negative result in March '06?

Anyway, my bet is that you are not infected with HSV-2.  The way to sort it out once and for all is to have a specimen sent to the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle for an HSV Western blot test.  My bet is that the WB will show positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2.

HHH, MD