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HSV 2 Clarification
Patient Background: In November 2011 HSV 1 IgG 3.18 HSV 2 IgG <.91
In March 2012 HSV 2 IgG 1.55
3 unprotected sexual encounters in last 4 months with 3 different partners. Dates of encounters Partner #1 10/10/11; 1/29/12. Partner #2 2/3/12. Partner #3 3/5/12. Diagnosed with very bad yeast infection after partner #2 in Feb. and all cultures for STDS came back negative. No known symptoms of outbreak, and no physical signs of lesions or ulcers upon 2 gyn exams (pre and post yeast infection)
Received the news today of HSV 2 IgG 1.55 positive for HSV2 from my GYN nurse, and MD is available for consult until Thursday so of course Im having anxiety and multiple questions needing answers. I have read through this forum all morning and realize now there is question on the 1.0-3.5 range for ELISA is a gray area for true positives. I plan to ask MD for Biokit and or Western Blot as additional follow up.
Questions:
1) I had strep throat last week and placed on antibiotics day after blood test. While Im sure the answer is no; could having the strep infection have any effect of HSV score?
2) Could small bump found after 2 days of intercourse with partner #2 and during symptoms of what diagnosed to be yeast infection be considered an outbreak? Sore was on inner wall of vagina felt during shower, but was gone after being touched. Assumed it was a cyst since no signs of it after being touched. And attributed burning/itching to yeast infection diagnosis.
3) How long should I wait to retest? Even with Biokit or Western Blot. From my reading the new term of seroconverting arose-Has seroconverting even begun since my encounters are so recent? Do I need to wait a full 4 months to retest since my last encounter was only 9 days ago.
4) Obviously hoping for a false negative however with my recent unprotected encounters this may be unlikely. I want to go into my consult informed. Any recent studies or articles you would recommend me sharing with my physician?
In March 2012 HSV 2 IgG 1.55
3 unprotected sexual encounters in last 4 months with 3 different partners. Dates of encounters Partner #1 10/10/11; 1/29/12. Partner #2 2/3/12. Partner #3 3/5/12. Diagnosed with very bad yeast infection after partner #2 in Feb. and all cultures for STDS came back negative. No known symptoms of outbreak, and no physical signs of lesions or ulcers upon 2 gyn exams (pre and post yeast infection)
Received the news today of HSV 2 IgG 1.55 positive for HSV2 from my GYN nurse, and MD is available for consult until Thursday so of course Im having anxiety and multiple questions needing answers. I have read through this forum all morning and realize now there is question on the 1.0-3.5 range for ELISA is a gray area for true positives. I plan to ask MD for Biokit and or Western Blot as additional follow up.
Questions:
1) I had strep throat last week and placed on antibiotics day after blood test. While Im sure the answer is no; could having the strep infection have any effect of HSV score?
2) Could small bump found after 2 days of intercourse with partner #2 and during symptoms of what diagnosed to be yeast infection be considered an outbreak? Sore was on inner wall of vagina felt during shower, but was gone after being touched. Assumed it was a cyst since no signs of it after being touched. And attributed burning/itching to yeast infection diagnosis.
3) How long should I wait to retest? Even with Biokit or Western Blot. From my reading the new term of seroconverting arose-Has seroconverting even begun since my encounters are so recent? Do I need to wait a full 4 months to retest since my last encounter was only 9 days ago.
4) Obviously hoping for a false negative however with my recent unprotected encounters this may be unlikely. I want to go into my consult informed. Any recent studies or articles you would recommend me sharing with my physician?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The negative BIOKIT means that your test result was falsely positive. There is no evidence that you have HSV-2. I suggest you believe it and move forward rather than conitnue to focus on this. EWH
I wanted to update you…...I received my BIOKIT results today and the results state "not detected" . When I asked the lab to confirm that this means negative they said that it did. There were no providers locally where I could take the test so I had a mobile draw and shipped it to a lab that offered the test.
Still have an uneasy feeling as to what I should believe, but to date have had no known symptoms of HSV 2. Debating on taking WB as well. And have the lab orders for another herpeselect as you suggested.
Looking forward to confirmation and hopefully putting this behind me. Thank you again for your advice.
Still have an uneasy feeling as to what I should believe, but to date have had no known symptoms of HSV 2. Debating on taking WB as well. And have the lab orders for another herpeselect as you suggested.
Looking forward to confirmation and hopefully putting this behind me. Thank you again for your advice.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Regarding the overlap between yeast infections and genital HSV, the answer is yes, genital herpes can be mistaken for yeast, both by clinicians and by patients.
AS for further testing. I'd suggest you get both a repeat HerpeSelct and a Biokit assay at the same time. If your HerpeSelect result was due to recently acquired infection the result will be considerably higher at this time and the Biokit will be positve as well. No need to wait to test. EWH
AS for further testing. I'd suggest you get both a repeat HerpeSelct and a Biokit assay at the same time. If your HerpeSelect result was due to recently acquired infection the result will be considerably higher at this time and the Biokit will be positve as well. No need to wait to test. EWH
Thank you for your prompt response. To answer your question "Were you tested for HSV at the time when you had the severe yeast infection you mention?"
I was tested for HSV 2 weeks post yeast infection diagnosis. Doc told me that may take up to two rounds of diflucan to clear up yeast (vaginal exam and cultures confirmed yeast infection on my initial visit) and to follow up if symptoms persisted. On follow up still had slight yeast symptoms, but again no signs of outbreak so she ran cultures again (negative) and asked her to order HSV blood test since I had read yeast symptoms can be similar to HSV and had not used protection. Bloodwork was done on that day 3/8 initial yeast diagnosis was on 2/24. Question does HSV ever attribute to symptoms or cause yeast infections?
I appreciate your advice and will ask for the BIOKIT. Would you recommend that I still wait a certain amount of time before retesting? Thank you again, and grateful for the existence of such forums like yours!
I was tested for HSV 2 weeks post yeast infection diagnosis. Doc told me that may take up to two rounds of diflucan to clear up yeast (vaginal exam and cultures confirmed yeast infection on my initial visit) and to follow up if symptoms persisted. On follow up still had slight yeast symptoms, but again no signs of outbreak so she ran cultures again (negative) and asked her to order HSV blood test since I had read yeast symptoms can be similar to HSV and had not used protection. Bloodwork was done on that day 3/8 initial yeast diagnosis was on 2/24. Question does HSV ever attribute to symptoms or cause yeast infections?
I appreciate your advice and will ask for the BIOKIT. Would you recommend that I still wait a certain amount of time before retesting? Thank you again, and grateful for the existence of such forums like yours!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll be addressing your questions. Thanks for looking at prior interactions on the site. We hope and believe that they are useful sources of information for our clients. Before I address your specific questions, I have a question for you.
Were you tested for HSV at the time when you had the severe yeast infection you mention? The reason I ask is that sometimes HSV can be mistaken for a yeast infection.
My guess is that the result you have is falsely positive. You already know you have HSV-1 and a value of 1.55 for HSV-2 in this situation is falsely positive in over 50% of persons who have not had an obvious HSV outbreak.
Now let's address your specific questions:
1) I had strep throat last week and placed on antibiotics day after blood test. While Im sure the answer is no; could having the strep infection have any effect of HSV score?
You are correct, your recent antibiotics will have no effect on either the HSV antibody value or on the time course of antibody development.
2) Could small bump found after 2 days of intercourse with partner #2 and during symptoms of what diagnosed to be yeast infection be considered an outbreak? Sore was on inner wall of vagina felt during shower, but was gone after being touched. Assumed it was a cyst since no signs of it after being touched. And attributed burning/itching to yeast infection diagnosis.
Yes, HSV infections are mistaken for yeast infections pretty commonly. the fact that your irritation and the sore you notice were present only briefly make it more likely that this was, indeed a yeast infection than HSV. I would add that had the sore you noted been HSV, it would not have been due to your recent contact with partner #2 since 2 days is too early for lesions related to a new HSV infection to develop.
3) How long should I wait to retest? Even with Biokit or Western Blot. From my reading the new term of seroconverting arose-Has seroconverting even begun since my encounters are so recent? Do I need to wait a full 4 months to retest since my last encounter was only 9 days ago.
If anything the BIOKIT is positive sooner than the Western blot so that would be the test I would recommend for you at this time. The WB can take a bit longer than either the HerpeSelect or the BIOKIT to fully develop a positive result.
4) Obviously hoping for a false negative however with my recent unprotected encounters this may be unlikely. I want to go into my consult informed. Any recent studies or articles you would recommend me sharing with my physician? .
Sorry, no good recent review articles at this time. The ASHA web site remains a good place for information for both clinicians an their patients.
I hope my comments are helpful. Congratulations on the mature, systematic fashion in which you are approaching this issue. Please let us know what further testing shows. EWH
Were you tested for HSV at the time when you had the severe yeast infection you mention? The reason I ask is that sometimes HSV can be mistaken for a yeast infection.
My guess is that the result you have is falsely positive. You already know you have HSV-1 and a value of 1.55 for HSV-2 in this situation is falsely positive in over 50% of persons who have not had an obvious HSV outbreak.
Now let's address your specific questions:
1) I had strep throat last week and placed on antibiotics day after blood test. While Im sure the answer is no; could having the strep infection have any effect of HSV score?
You are correct, your recent antibiotics will have no effect on either the HSV antibody value or on the time course of antibody development.
2) Could small bump found after 2 days of intercourse with partner #2 and during symptoms of what diagnosed to be yeast infection be considered an outbreak? Sore was on inner wall of vagina felt during shower, but was gone after being touched. Assumed it was a cyst since no signs of it after being touched. And attributed burning/itching to yeast infection diagnosis.
Yes, HSV infections are mistaken for yeast infections pretty commonly. the fact that your irritation and the sore you notice were present only briefly make it more likely that this was, indeed a yeast infection than HSV. I would add that had the sore you noted been HSV, it would not have been due to your recent contact with partner #2 since 2 days is too early for lesions related to a new HSV infection to develop.
3) How long should I wait to retest? Even with Biokit or Western Blot. From my reading the new term of seroconverting arose-Has seroconverting even begun since my encounters are so recent? Do I need to wait a full 4 months to retest since my last encounter was only 9 days ago.
If anything the BIOKIT is positive sooner than the Western blot so that would be the test I would recommend for you at this time. The WB can take a bit longer than either the HerpeSelect or the BIOKIT to fully develop a positive result.
4) Obviously hoping for a false negative however with my recent unprotected encounters this may be unlikely. I want to go into my consult informed. Any recent studies or articles you would recommend me sharing with my physician? .
Sorry, no good recent review articles at this time. The ASHA web site remains a good place for information for both clinicians an their patients.
I hope my comments are helpful. Congratulations on the mature, systematic fashion in which you are approaching this issue. Please let us know what further testing shows. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
