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Questioning blood test after three years
To Dr Hansfield please, just because he's answered some questions of mine before. I'm sorry for the length. The episode started with a night of unprotected oral and genital sex with a female friend of mine in May 2005, over three years ago.
Could I please prevail on you to scan my last question here, back in 2006? Otherwise I can't condense the information down enought to get a meaningful response. This is the link: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/247809?personal_page_id=46425&post_id=post_1551446
Ok since the five months of pain and those two lesions in Dec05 and Jan 06:
- July 2006: Six months later I was masturbating when again saw a tiny patch of redness on top of penis. Again, no sores. The next day there was a few "dots" of scabbing so small that I could scrape them off that afternoon. The area was a bit shiny, but otherwise no other trace after 24 hours.
- July 2008: Two years later I was masturbating, when again I felt a stab of pain, like I'd just torn the skin. Right where my thumb had been there was a redness, and this time when I looked up close I could make out a tiny break in the skin. When I pushed it, it bled a little. Healed over in a couple of days. This was on the side of the penis, so a new location. What I'm worried about doc, is that my blood test was a false negative for HSV2. You see about a year ago I did notice a tiny cut on my lip which, if it was HSV1 would rule out genital HSV1 wouldn't it? I've been consumed by guilt I may have put my girlfriend at risk (she is HSV1+ HSV2-).
So finally, my question: Do you think I should be concerned about a false negative for HSV2? If so, what do you think my next step should be?
Could I please prevail on you to scan my last question here, back in 2006? Otherwise I can't condense the information down enought to get a meaningful response. This is the link: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/247809?personal_page_id=46425&post_id=post_1551446
Ok since the five months of pain and those two lesions in Dec05 and Jan 06:
- July 2006: Six months later I was masturbating when again saw a tiny patch of redness on top of penis. Again, no sores. The next day there was a few "dots" of scabbing so small that I could scrape them off that afternoon. The area was a bit shiny, but otherwise no other trace after 24 hours.
- July 2008: Two years later I was masturbating, when again I felt a stab of pain, like I'd just torn the skin. Right where my thumb had been there was a redness, and this time when I looked up close I could make out a tiny break in the skin. When I pushed it, it bled a little. Healed over in a couple of days. This was on the side of the penis, so a new location. What I'm worried about doc, is that my blood test was a false negative for HSV2. You see about a year ago I did notice a tiny cut on my lip which, if it was HSV1 would rule out genital HSV1 wouldn't it? I've been consumed by guilt I may have put my girlfriend at risk (she is HSV1+ HSV2-).
So finally, my question: Do you think I should be concerned about a false negative for HSV2? If so, what do you think my next step should be?
Thankyou Dr Hook!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You do not get a choice. Dr. Handsfield and I share the forum. You got me. FYI, the reason we share the forum is because we have worked together for nearly 30 years and while our verbiage styles vary, we have never disagreed on management strategies or advice to clients.
I have read your earlier post and the events you describe. You get your episodes of redness and breaks in the skin during masturbation which, by definition is an event in which friction and shearing forces are operative. The chances that these lesions are herpes, much less HSV-2 are very, very low. A very small proportion of persons with clinical HSV fail to develop positive tests. In your case, you do not have probably clinical events and are still worried. If you had a test which was positive at this time, I would be first and foremost that is was false positive. The chances that you have HSV-2 are so low that I would advise you to forget about them and concentrate on how to get over the guilt which you acknowledge is plaguing you. The HerpeSelect is a good test. Believe it. EWH
I have read your earlier post and the events you describe. You get your episodes of redness and breaks in the skin during masturbation which, by definition is an event in which friction and shearing forces are operative. The chances that these lesions are herpes, much less HSV-2 are very, very low. A very small proportion of persons with clinical HSV fail to develop positive tests. In your case, you do not have probably clinical events and are still worried. If you had a test which was positive at this time, I would be first and foremost that is was false positive. The chances that you have HSV-2 are so low that I would advise you to forget about them and concentrate on how to get over the guilt which you acknowledge is plaguing you. The HerpeSelect is a good test. Believe it. EWH
I mentioned it in my other post, but just so its clear: I had an IgG glycoprotein based test in December 2005, just under six months after exposure. It was positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2.
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.
