I am not a doctor but I am a clinical microbiologist. It sounds like the HSV-2 is borderline or negative. Do you know the reference range on the lab for that test? Usually, it is higher to be positive. Are you looking for recent or past exposure? The RPR test is a test for Syphillis not HSV. It has nothing to do with it. Did you know that Lupus is the #1 misdiagnosed autoimmune disease? It may be the #1 misdiagnosed disease. I hope that you didn't base it on just a biopsy of the skin or the ANA test. I would like to know more about that too. My best friend was treated by supposedly one of the best doctors in the country (U.S.) and 20 years later it turns out after she went blind from plaquinil toxicity (which more common that that state) it turns out they were basing it all on a biopsy. Well the biopsy of her face (discoid Lupus) was confused with her rosacea. Which apparently look similar on biopsy. So, she wants me to spread the word about home much they misdiagnose people. Anyway, how long has it been since exposure that you think you were exposed to HSV-2? You can do an IgG after 3 months after exposure. If you still had blisters and haven't been treated with acyclovir then you could get the test down before the blisters go away then they could do a test for Herpes type 2 on the blisters. It maybe be too late for that so you would probably want to wait for the IgG serology test. IgM isn't as accurate. Let me know if this answers your questions.
Hi, Firstly, we are not doctors on these forums but I am a microbiologist and can try to give you some guidance. I have had several friends who were mis-diagnosed with Lupus. So I wonder which tests they used to diagnose you? I just want to check since it is the #1 misdiagnosed disease. My friend also went blind on plaquinil despite having regular eye exams. So if you are taking that drug be careful or change drugs if you can. My other friend was diagnosed with Lupus and she didn't have it either and it turned out to be wheat gluten intolerance! Hard to believe. She had severe joint pain etc. It is all gone now. So I think Lupus is a group of tests that they put together to call a disease but you have to have at least around 6 of the tests to be positive. The RPR test is a test for Syphilis. So you may have your terms wrong? Okay so as for your results let me start over on another post so I don't lose what I wrote. See below.
thanks,
mkh9
Great news. I figured that but good to see it anyway. Now you can relax!
mkh9
I got my results from a retest today and it was completely negative!! Thank you so much for the peace of mind while I was waiting the four months for the retest. Lupus and antibody tests don't mix ;-)
Great, I haven't heard back from anyone and may not. So that is good. I figured Lupus would may everything go up not down so that is good. No I wouldn't think again about it.
take care.
mkh9
Thank you so much! My rheumy says my lupus inflates my numbers and couldn't possibly make them lower. I am still a bit nervous, but your answer really helped!! THANK YOU!
I wrote to my microbiology group to see if anyone there has any comments on your results as well. It may take a day or two.
regards,
mkh9
Based on what you said no you are negative. If the result is supposed to be <1:10 and you are 10 that is really not a positive answer. Usually, I would call that a repeat test and leave it up to the doctor interpret. If you really want to be sure I would repeat in 3 months. Not everyone has an outbreak. But you can be asymptomatic and carry either one. But if you get the IgG antibody test done 3 months after exposure that should be definitive. If the one you did was 3 months after exposure than I would call it negative. But in case there was some error in the test reading that would be the only reason to repeat in that case. The only other suggestion would be to ask your rheumatologist if they know of any reason why the HSV antibody would be knocked down due to having Lupus. I haven't seen this in the literature or in anything I have read yet. I have seen it with HIV like I said giving false positives. Hope this helps.
mkh9
Thank you for your response. My lupus is not discoid and I've had pretty much the laundry list of symptoms, so I'm confident in the diagnosis. The reference range for the HSV test is negative if <1:10 and I was right at 1:10 with no possibility of recent infection. I've also never have any sort of blisters. I saw my primary care about it (urgent care did the test) and she is certain I'm negative based on the borderline nature, HSV-1, and tendency for people with lupus to have very high number when they are infected (i.e., not borderline.) I am still very nervous, however, and wish I had more information.
I also have read that Lupus can affect the results of HIV tests (false positives) but I haven't seen anything about affecting the results of HSV tests.
mkh9
Hi the RPR is a syphilis test not a herpes test. Find out what test you had, you need a herpes select type specific, but yes a low positive, anything 1 or over would either be a false positive or a recent infection. Retest or take the proper test.