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HSV Culture Vs. HSV IGG
Hey Everyone,
I'm in a little big of a strange situation and I'm hoping someone on here could help me out.
In March (6 months ago), I had oral sex with a partner who claimed they've never had any STDS, however, a couple days after the encounter I experienced itchiness in my anal region (where the oral sex was performed). I went to a doctor who clinically diagnosed me with genital herpes. She did a swab of the area and it came back negative. The doctor told me although the result was negative, she still believed I had HSV. I was really conflicted by this, so over the past 6 months, I have periodically have had HSV IGG blood tests conducted. Every single one of the blood tests have come back negative for IGG. I am at 6 months now which is WELL beyond the 12-16 week range that is recommended in order for the results of an IGG to be conclusive. I was starting to think that I was in the clear, however, last week I felt some itching in the anal region once again so I went to a doctor to have it looked at. She looked at the region, said she thought it didn't look like a herpes outbreak, but wanted to swap the region just in case. She ordered an HSV Culture and just called me today to inform me that it came back positive for HSV 1.
So.... My question is, what do I believe? Do I believe the positive HSV Culture or should I believe the negative HSV IGG?
Any help/insight is much appreciated. Thank you!
I'm in a little big of a strange situation and I'm hoping someone on here could help me out.
In March (6 months ago), I had oral sex with a partner who claimed they've never had any STDS, however, a couple days after the encounter I experienced itchiness in my anal region (where the oral sex was performed). I went to a doctor who clinically diagnosed me with genital herpes. She did a swab of the area and it came back negative. The doctor told me although the result was negative, she still believed I had HSV. I was really conflicted by this, so over the past 6 months, I have periodically have had HSV IGG blood tests conducted. Every single one of the blood tests have come back negative for IGG. I am at 6 months now which is WELL beyond the 12-16 week range that is recommended in order for the results of an IGG to be conclusive. I was starting to think that I was in the clear, however, last week I felt some itching in the anal region once again so I went to a doctor to have it looked at. She looked at the region, said she thought it didn't look like a herpes outbreak, but wanted to swap the region just in case. She ordered an HSV Culture and just called me today to inform me that it came back positive for HSV 1.
So.... My question is, what do I believe? Do I believe the positive HSV Culture or should I believe the negative HSV IGG?
Any help/insight is much appreciated. Thank you!
While cultures aren’t as good as a PCR swab, the culture being positive is conclusive. The thing about IgG testing for HSV1 is the test can miss up to 30% of infections. It’s just not that good for type 1. The culture would be accurate. HSV1 is becoming more and more common being acquired genitally from oral sex.
The silver lining is HSV1 genitally sheds infrequently and symptoms ongoing tend to be mild or nonexistent.
The silver lining is HSV1 genitally sheds infrequently and symptoms ongoing tend to be mild or nonexistent.
2 Comments
So you are saying I should go with the positive culture, despite the negative IgG, and go forward believing that I have HSV1? Is there anyway the culture is a false positive?
If there was a lab mix-up, that is the only way I would say the swab would be wrong. Because you were swabbed last week and found out this week, makes me think this was a PCR swab.
I would definitely go with the swab. Cultures are definitive.
I would definitely go with the swab. Cultures are definitive.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
