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STDs (Expert Forum)
HSV-2 Symptoms but negative culture - what is wrong with me?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
HSV-2 Symptoms but negative culture - what is wrong with me?
by Worried§Waiting06, Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
I recently developed sores/lesions around my genital area. I immediately went to see my doctor and she indicated that she was fairly certain I had contracted herpes. However, the culture came back negative. THe lesions were definitely newer and extremely painful when I went to see my dr.- from other postings it sounds like this is the most accurate time to get tested. My blood test results will be in next week but if I was exposed it was in the past month so I am not sure that the blood test will be accurate.
Is there anything I should be worried about? What else could this be?
Thanks!
Is there anything I should be worried about? What else could this be?
Thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
, Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
Culture for HSV is a very imperfect test and misses lots of infections--especially when lesions are starting to heal, but sometimes even fresh sores. You are right; the initial blood test likely will be negative even if you have herpes. If so, get a follow-up type-specific blood test after 4-6 weeks. Of course the other possibility is that you don't have herpes at all, but you don't provide enough information about the nature of your lesions (type, location, other symptoms, time from exposure to onset, etc) for me to judge the other possibilities. Another "test" is to start anti-herpes treatment with valacyclovir, acyclovir, or famciclovir; a prompt response would support the diagnosis (if your doctor was pretty certain you had herpes, she should have started such treatment immediately, without waiting for the culture result--but it may be too late now if the problem is resolving on its own).
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
