Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
STDs (Expert Forum)
HSV Infection Assessment Question-follow-up to Jun 03, 2008 post
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
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 Infection Assessment Question-follow-up to Jun 03, 2008 post
by Wheredoigofromhere, Sep 10, 2008 03:30PM
In the interest of saving space, I refer to the prior post for the case history specifics.
20 weeks post-exposure I have new test results, received today:
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec 1.42
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91
Compared to the initial test results, which were 5 weeks post-exposure:
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec 1.2
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91
In Dr. Handsfield's reply to my original post, he suggested infection was unlikely, based on my post. I confess I couldn't wait another month; I haven't had any classical outbreak symptoms (either primary or recurring, from what I've read about them), but my head won't let go of it either.
My question relates to test results interpretation. Is what I'm looking at here a result of differences in one test instance from another, or does it suggest that I did indeed become infected back in April? Am I still in the grey area of false positives, even given the absence of HSV-1?
Any advice on this, and how/if to proceed with additional testing or letting the matter rest would be appreciated.
Thank you.
20 weeks post-exposure I have new test results, received today:
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec 1.42
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91
Compared to the initial test results, which were 5 weeks post-exposure:
HSV 2 IgG, Type Spec 1.2
HSV 1 IgG, Type Spec <0.91
In Dr. Handsfield's reply to my original post, he suggested infection was unlikely, based on my post. I confess I couldn't wait another month; I haven't had any classical outbreak symptoms (either primary or recurring, from what I've read about them), but my head won't let go of it either.
My question relates to test results interpretation. Is what I'm looking at here a result of differences in one test instance from another, or does it suggest that I did indeed become infected back in April? Am I still in the grey area of false positives, even given the absence of HSV-1?
Any advice on this, and how/if to proceed with additional testing or letting the matter rest would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Sep 10, 2008 06:36PM
, Sep 10, 2008 06:36PM
I went back and read your earlier exchange with Dr. Handsfield. He thought the probability that you have herpes was very low. That was my conclusion as well, even before I read your earlier post. Your test rests are in the area where the majority of test results which are "low positive" such as yours are actually false positive. The change in your values over the interval is irrelevant and immaterial - they are essentially the same. This adds to the probability that your results are false positive. Putting these results together I feel confident that you do not have HSV and do not need further testing. If, for some reason, my expert opinion is insufficient you could seek testing with either a Biokit or Western Blot to confirm that you do not have herpes. I do not think you need this but, if you must, that is what I suggest. You do not have herpes. EWH
