Please clarify test results

[user1975]

I had an extramarital affair with a woman I now assume has herpes (I am unable to contact her).  We had unprotected sex 3 times mid October, beginning of November and November 20, 2007.

I am very concerned about contracting Herpes and what it would mean to my wife.  I was tested by tSTD and Quest Diagnostics with the blood draw on December 14, 2007.  I have a couple of questions pertaining to the results.

1. HSV-1 aB IgG  result is 3.85 H
2. HSV-2 aB IgG  result is 1.64 H
3. All other STD’s show negative results

I realize that I am definitely positive for HSV-1, however, is my HSV-2 a possible false positive?  After reading through this forum I realize I might have been tested too soon.  If so, when should I get retested.

I have set an appointment with my PCP for Friday is there any questions I should ask, or anything I should let him know to help with diagnosis.  Thanks for your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I agree with your interpretation of the test results.  Your HSV-2 antibody level is not sky high and thus could be increasing or could be a false positive which could be sorted out by having Quest do either and inhibition test or a western blot (I think they offer this), either of which my shed additional light on the matter.  Alternatively, your results could represent antibodies from an infection acquired in the more distant past (remember about 9 of 10 people with genital HSV-2 do not know they are infected) Thus, if the test is positive, we do not and cannot know when you acquired the infection.  If you acquired herpes from one of the exposures you describe we find that about half of blood tests become positive about 22-25 days after infection and that at 3 months about 75-85% of tests will be positive.  In your case, if you are seroconverting (developing new antibodies) and the concentration of antibodies is still increasing, a test performed one month after your prior test should be sufficient to show that the antibody levels are increasing.

I hope this information is helpful.  EWH

[That Dude]

Don't mean to thread jump but whats the percentage at 4 months.

Thanks in advance