Herpes Type 2 through no sex?

[worried_01]

Docs,

I have never had sex (intercourse or oral) before.  I am seeing someone and we decided to get STI screenings before having sex.  All my other tests (HIV, Hepatitis, Herpes Type 1) came back negative except for Herpes Type 2. The test performed was the HSV 1-2 IGG HERPESELECT AB and the test result was 1.83.  

My OB/GYN could not explain the reason and recommended that I get a retest in a month's time.  The doctor also said that the antibody detected by the test was an old one but couldn't say from how long ago.

Through my online searches, I could not find any other cause of exposure other than through sex (genital-gential, oral-genital).  I've had online responses that since I have never had sex, this could highly be a false positive.

My questions are:
1. Are there other ways of being exposed to herpes other than sex (oral / intercourse)?
2. How do you interpret a test result of 1.83?  I've read elsewhere and a member mentioned that this result is within the range where false positives occur regularly.  Could this be the case?
3. What test would you recommend for a retest?
4. Is there a waiting time before I get a retest?  My OB/GYN recommended waiting about a month - is there a reason for him recommending this?
5. I had chicken pox before and read somewhere that this could be related to a form of herpes (zoster).  Could this affect my test result?  
6. I am allergic to cats and had broken out twice from having been around a cat.  The breakout rashes I had on my arms and legs, looked similar to some pictures I found online for rashes from herpes zoster.  Could this be related?

Thanks for your help.

worried_01

[scjohn]

A related discussion, Herpes II without sex was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Hi.  I've become aware that it may have been suggested that you could have gotten herpes from non-sexual contact.  This is wrong. The reason these diseases are called SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES is becasue that is the way that they are transmitted.  If you have not had sex, you have nothing to worry about.  Please beware of the all too common misinformation that shows up over the net from time to time.  Take care.   EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Please realize that Herpes blood test results must be taken in context.  By that I mean that all blood tests have both false positive and false negative results from time to time (the goal is to minimize this and know when it is likely, that is a large part of my job).  In your case, you sound as though your are low risk although occasional HSV can be spread through non-penetrative sexual activity. It takes contact to occur (see below). Now on to you and your results:

1.  You were tested with a good test.  I congratulate your health care provider for using a test that differentiate well between HSV-1 and HSV-2.  False positive tests however do occur.
2.  You do not have antibodies to HSV-1.  
3.  You probably do not have HSV-2 either.  There is an ongoing debate in the expert community about what the cut-off for a positive Herpes Select antibody test should be with many arguing that the current cut off is too low and that, in low risk persons (thus this may pertain to you), the cut off should be in the neighborhood of 3.0.  Given your initial negative followed by what we in the business call a "low positive", my guess is you don't have HSV-2 either.

Answers to your specific questions:

1&2.  See above
3.  Personally, I see no reason for a repeat test.  If you think it would help, there are several possibilities including having what the HerpeSelect manufacturer calls the "Inhibition Test" or by getting a HSV Western blot test from the University of Washington.  The latter test is more expensive and many insurers do not pay for it but it is the "gold standard" antibody test for HSV.
4.  I don't hear of any clinical event to use as a basis for waiting.  Realize however that if you repeat the same test there is a fair (not 100%) chance that you will get a similar result.
5.  In theory, yes but the fact is most people who have had chicken pox do not have false positive blood tests.
6.  Unlikely.

I know this is a difficult situation.  I hope my comments are helpful to you.  EWH

[worried_01]

One more thing, I've never had an outbreak of Type 1 or Type 2 (on my genitals) before, at least, not that I know of.  But then again, I've read that in some cases there might not be an outbreak...?

worried_01