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STDs  (Expert Forum)
 | 
help with test results
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.

help with test results

by meme1234135, Jul 25, 2008 12:50PM
can you please help me understand my test results:

1st test:hsv1/hsv2 igg 1.5 h
hvs1/2  igg intrep positive A
hsv 2 igg type spec. neg.

2nd test: hsv2 igg spec. 1.5

3rd. test hvs1 positive
              hsv2 postive

which test is more accurate pcr, herpeselect, western blot

thanks in advance,

by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 25, 2008 04:10PM
The topic of herpes is a complex one.  The disease is common with HSV-1 being present in over 60% of adults and HSV-2 (the virus which causes most genital herpes) being present in about 1 in 5 Americans.  For both infections, the majority of people who have the infections are not aware that they are infected, either because they either acquired it without knowing in the past or because they misidentified their herpes as something else.  Additional information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA).

Regarding your test results.
First of all, what type of tests are you reporting?  Are they HrepeSelect?  They certainly are not PCR (which is a test for the virus, not for antibody) or Western blot.  Antibody tests and tests for the virus (PCR) have different purposes.

Combined HSV1/HSV2 tests as a rule tend to not be specific or helpful. \
I do not know what the other test results you are describing mean without knowing what brand test they are. If you wish to provide more information as to what tests they are, why they were done 3 times, etc, perhaps I can help.  EWH
Member Comments (18)

by meme1234135, Jul 28, 2008 12:44PM
To: edward hook
these were herpes select test  

the reason the tests were performed is because 3 years again i a spot(in the vaginal area) that looked like a cancer sore that you would get in your mouth and my dr. did a culture which was neg. and the 1st set of blood test. and i had dr. repeat just to see if the results had changed.
would there be any change in the numbers if it really was hsv-2.

by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 28, 2008 01:37PM
If they were the HerpeSelect assay, there should be numberical values to go with your most recent results (all of them in fact).  could you porvide them  EWH

by meme1234135, Jul 28, 2008 01:47PM
To: edward hook
so i mean canker sore

by meme1234135, Jul 29, 2008 12:52PM
To: edward hook
my doctor is telling me that these were herpeselect test and that some don't have the numbers is this true. also does this mean that i have herpes type 2 if so what should i do next?

by meme1234135, Jul 29, 2008 01:35PM
To: edward hook
sorry 1 more questions would the levels go up each time the test is taken??

by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 29, 2008 04:19PM
I have never received a HerpeSelect test result that did not also give a numerical result.  If there are other readers of the forum who have received such results, I would appreciate hearing about it.

The numbers can fluctuate in test to test due to a variety of reasons.  EWH

by meme1234135, Jul 30, 2008 09:52AM
To: edward hook
so do you think that i have anything to worry about since one of the test was hsv 3 spec. and was neg.?

by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 30, 2008 05:50PM
I cannot judge your risk from the information you provide.  The is a substantial chance that you do not have HSV but again, there is not enough information here to be sure one way or the other.  EWH

by meme1234135, Jul 31, 2008 02:11PM
To: edward hook
so is it normal to get 3 false positive for hsv since the hsv 1 was positive also.
be in the same relationship for 17 years. any suggestions what i should do now?

by meme1234135, Aug 05, 2008 12:21PM
To: EDWARD HOOK
SORRY NOT SURE IF YOU RECEIVED MY LAST POSTING IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET 3 FALSE POS. I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS SAME RELATIONSHIP FOR 117 YEARS HUSBAND HAS NO SIGNS.

by Edward W Hook, MD, Aug 05, 2008 10:23PM
The only way for you to sort this out is to get a western blot assay from the University of Washington.  I cannot help you sort out this.  I suspect your results are false positve but a far more definitve answer would come from a western Blot.  EWH

by meme1234135, Aug 13, 2008 09:38AM
To: edward hook
is it very common to receive hvs2 through giving unprotected oral sex with protected vaginal sex?

by Edward W Hook, MD, Aug 13, 2008 09:44AM
No.  This thread has gone on far beyond what is usual and appears to be getting off of the original topic of your test results. It is now time for it to end. No further questions please EWH

by meme1234135, Aug 21, 2008 01:13PM
To: edward hook
okay here is my last question re: new test results i seen a new dr. she reviewed all of my old tests results said she had no idea what kind of tests these were either so she said she was running herpeselect and here are my results should i worry any longer?

hsv1/2 igg 1.1
hsv1 igg spec. <.91
hsv2 <0.91

thanks in advance

by Edward W Hook, MD, Aug 21, 2008 03:43PM
These HerpeSelect test results indicate the antibodies to HSV are not present.  You do not have herpes.  EWH

by meme1234135, Aug 22, 2008 07:17AM
To: edward hook
so no need for western blot.

by Edward W Hook, MD, Aug 22, 2008 07:57AM
No, no need.

Your questions have now been answered. TIme for this thread to end.  No further questions please.  EWH
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