how accurate are blood tests from first outbreak

[jayj1]

hey, I noticed an ulcer on the bottom of my shaft and a small rash on my body next to the base and a little ulcer on the bottom of my shaft thats it> I went to my doctor and he said it looked like herpes but he isn't real good with skin infections. he sent me for a blood test 8 days after I noticed the bumps 5 days later I got the results they came back negative and he said the tests didn't show anything but that the antibodies may not have formed yet. How accurate is the blood test for herpes  and could I have it or am I just paraniode? the girl I got it from I think, is clean I been with her for a while but she had a bad cold sore on her mouth and did give me oral sex but she has had a blood test after we had sex that same night and she has no symtoms and her results are neg too. I got valtrex and some cream and it is going away and I didn't have any of the herpes 2 symptoms like burning when I pee or sore blisters, or flu like symptoms or lower back pain I am just scared to death and worry to much can you help put my mind at ease? thanks.  

[gracefromHHP]

It's unfortunate that he sent you for a blood test instead of doing a lesion culture :(  At this point I recommend getting your partner tested for herpes to see what her status is and then repeating your blood test in 3 or 4 months.  Should you get a return of symptoms before that - see someone who will do a lesion culture and typing for you.

Meanwhile I recommend that you and your partner both take a look at the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com to learn more about herpes. There is also a terrific patient counseling video there too to watch.

grace

[jayj1]

thanks, she got a blood test to, and she is fine and has no symptoms or bumps or blisters, my test specificlly tested for herpes 1 and 2 I just wanted to know how accurate the tests are and how soon it would show up in my blood, common sense would say if you have the sores it would be in your blood, but I guess not I don't know anymore I have read so much that I am more confused then I am aware of the disease so I guess I will have to wait and see. thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Do you know how your gf was tested? Was it just since this happened with you?  If she gets cold sores she has hsv1 and you can transmit that to the genital area.

grace

[jayj1]

hey grace, she got tested by her gynocologist after my break out, she had a bad cold sore on the corner of her mouth when we messed around then we had sex unprotected right after, she never got any symptoms in her gentitle area since then and she was blood tested twice from then to today and she is fine, if I got hsv-1 will I be ok? Will it turn into hsv-2 ?I have been on valtrex and zoviax for a week now, can they look the same but not the same symptoms? I don't have painful blisters, they didn't crust they mildley itched it burn when I went to the bathroom, I didn't have any flu like symptoms, no discharge, no lower back pain, or swollen glans or sore throat. It didn't really look like the pictures on the internet, and I looked at alot of them it was one single ulcer on the top down at the lower part of the shaft, one single small one on the bottom, same area, one small pimple like mark that never opened looked( like a pimple you get on your lip right between the red of your lip and your skin) but it didn't get white like a puss  look to it   and about three in a row on my body away from my scrotom obove my penis. I am just really scared it was such a bs way to get it, its not like I picked up a stranger off the street I didn't know and I know she wasn't with anyone else so if you have any opion or any advice on if it could be 1 or 2  and if its 1 if i will be ok please let me know I am about to go off the deep end I am 33 years old and this is the first time somthing like this has happened I have been so careful for so long I don't want to end up like this, thanks for all your help    

[gracefromHHP]

Even the best hsv tests still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. It's hard to tell if what she considers a cold sore on the corner of her mouth really is hsv1 or not. there are many other things it could be too.

If your lesions don't go away within 2 weeks - I'd seek out the opinion of another provider.  You'll also have to wait and repeat your hsv blood test in 3 or 4 months.  

Hsv1 never turns into hsv2 - it stays hsv1 regardless of location of infection.

grace

[jayj1]

hey grace, they are going away, in fact they are almost gone, I take my last of the valtrex on sun I have been on it for ten days and the cream is almost gone too I first noticed them about july 4th. thanks for clearing up the hsv-1 and hsv-2 thing I didn't know how that worked,  can hsv-1 be like that? similar symptoms of 2 in the gentitle area? Also does it go away and does it come back there if it is hsv1? thanks for all your help and explaining this to me its not like its something you can go around asking people.  

[gracefromHHP]

hsv1 appears exactly the same in the genital area as hsv2 does. The only way to tell the difference is in the lab.  

www.westoverheights.com has the herpes handbook which goes into it all in more detail for more reading.

grace