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STDs (Expert Forum)
Herpes Blood Test at Five Weeks Worthless???
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.
Herpes Blood Test at Five Weeks Worthless???
by nd2stopworring, Jun 24, 2007 12:00AM
I had a an affair on my wife of 4 yrs for the first time ever. I am a 28 yr old male. Her status to me is unknown. Met her thru work age 21.
Unprotected Vaginal sex 6 times first wknd, twice 4 wks later.
Stopped relationship shortly after
I went into freak mode about STD's and starting seeing my Dr. about twice a wk thinking I had everything and got tested for just about everything.
Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Neg (got screened anyways with antibiotics)
Syphilis/Herpes Neg (8 wks from first exp 5 wks from last exposure) Which this test relieved my anxiety of herpes
HIV Neg (12 wks from first exp 8 wks from last)
It took me a while to except my HIV test results at 8 wks until I read your forum on HIV then I finally started to feel better, but I also read on that the herpes test that I had was worthless at 5 wks and I could potentially still be infected. And I have to wait another 4 wks till I get an accurate test. My anxiety on herpes has now returned
No real symptoms of herpes. At least that what my Dr. says everytime I show him something I think is herpes. No fever since I last saw her
?'s
Was my test really worthless in finding out if I had Herpes at 5 wks?
What are chances of getting herpes per episode of vaginal sex?
Is a test at 12 wks the only way I can know for sure that I do not have herpes? I am tired of worrying and want to return to my relationship with my wife w/o thinking I will infect her.
Unprotected Vaginal sex 6 times first wknd, twice 4 wks later.
Stopped relationship shortly after
I went into freak mode about STD's and starting seeing my Dr. about twice a wk thinking I had everything and got tested for just about everything.
Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Neg (got screened anyways with antibiotics)
Syphilis/Herpes Neg (8 wks from first exp 5 wks from last exposure) Which this test relieved my anxiety of herpes
HIV Neg (12 wks from first exp 8 wks from last)
It took me a while to except my HIV test results at 8 wks until I read your forum on HIV then I finally started to feel better, but I also read on that the herpes test that I had was worthless at 5 wks and I could potentially still be infected. And I have to wait another 4 wks till I get an accurate test. My anxiety on herpes has now returned
No real symptoms of herpes. At least that what my Dr. says everytime I show him something I think is herpes. No fever since I last saw her
?'s
Was my test really worthless in finding out if I had Herpes at 5 wks?
What are chances of getting herpes per episode of vaginal sex?
Is a test at 12 wks the only way I can know for sure that I do not have herpes? I am tired of worrying and want to return to my relationship with my wife w/o thinking I will infect her.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 24, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 24, 2007 12:00AM
Sound like you have a wise doctor. My only additional advice, aside from listening to your doctor and believing what he says, is to ask your one-time partner whether she has herpes. If she says no, that will provide substantial reassurance. (Among asymptomatic 21 year olds in the US, less than 10% are infected.)
The 5 week negative blood test result is moderrately reassuring; around 50% of newly infected people are positive by that time. But for 100% certainty, a blood test 12+ weeks after exposure is needed.
There are no data on the risk of transmission, if your partner had HSV. But it has to be very low: In couples in which one person has HV-2 and the other does not, who have unprotected vaginal sex an average of 2-3 times per week, transmission occurs in only 1 in 20 couples (5%) per year. So the risk for any particular sexual event obviously is very low.
All in all, at this point the evidence is overwhelming you weren't infected. As far as I am concerned, there is no reason you cannot resume sex with your wife.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
The 5 week negative blood test result is moderrately reassuring; around 50% of newly infected people are positive by that time. But for 100% certainty, a blood test 12+ weeks after exposure is needed.
There are no data on the risk of transmission, if your partner had HSV. But it has to be very low: In couples in which one person has HV-2 and the other does not, who have unprotected vaginal sex an average of 2-3 times per week, transmission occurs in only 1 in 20 couples (5%) per year. So the risk for any particular sexual event obviously is very low.
All in all, at this point the evidence is overwhelming you weren't infected. As far as I am concerned, there is no reason you cannot resume sex with your wife.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I know I made a huge mistake and my relationship with my wife is better because of it..( besides the anxiety)
I have 4 wks left till I hit the 12 wk mark. I don't know if I even need to go test unless symptoms really present themselves.
I also feel better about the odds.. that first I have to find someone with HSV 2 which then contract it then be1 out of the 50% that test positive after 5 weeks. then be one of the ones that does not have symptoms at 8 weeks after exposure.. Good odds I guess.. thanks again