Are these normal hsv 1 and 2 test results?

[Rosco21]

So i did a herpes igg test 84 days after my ladt exposure. I was negative for hsv 1 and 2. My results where as follows; HSV 1 IGG: 0.1 (negative) and HSV 2 IGG: 0.0 (negative). The reason i ask is because most test results that i have seen are all in the low double digits, like .33-.45-.55 kind of range. Im satisfied with the negative but would like to know if there is a reason for them being so low, as low as 0.0.

Thanks for the help.

[questionaboutresults99]

Hi!  hope you can help me out.  hsv2 came back 0 and hsv1 came back 1.12 I know the range is .9-1.10 for equivocal does the 1.12 mean absolutely positive for hsv1 ?  or is it so close to equivocal it could be in that range.  I have never had an outbreak of anything.  

>1.10 positive

[Rosco21]

So i spoke with the lab and they told me that the 0.0 is fine and normal, simply means i have no antibodies to HSV. My doctor also told me its ok and that she has seen this before. The lab told me they use an ELISA test which i think is created by herpselect and have a range of 0.0 to 0.9 and that anything under 0.9 is negative, which mine is (0.1 and 0.0, HSV 1 and 2) nd that anything over is positive so i guess im ok, i also dont rly have anyone else to ask about this as both the doc and lab said its fine. I also came across this thread which is a convo between terri and another patient who had exactly the same results as me (0.1 and 0.0) and terri didnt bat an eye as to those results. Here is the thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/I-need-help-with-HSV-II-IgG-test-results/show/1559978.

For anyone experiencing the same problems as me i hope this thread serves as an informative area for you. Thank you to all of you who took the time to help me through this!!  

Take care for now!

[Rosco21]

Hey howard thanks for the reply. I almost feel as thought my doctor lied to me when she said she has seen results like this before (0.0) and that its normal as everyone else i seem to speak with has never seen such a thing. I tried calling the lab and which is called gamma dynacare and they told me to call another lab that actually does the testing and send it to gamma. Im waiting on their response.

Thanks again.

[HowardH]

Most of your uncertainty results from a misunderstanding of the technology of HSV antibody testing.  The numerical value always varies; if you test 10 times (even if you test the same blood specimen 10 times) there wll be 10 different numbers. There is no difference between results of 0.1, 0.4, and 0.8; all are equally negative. Even an apparent upward trend usually means nothing unless the rise is fast and occurs in the first few weeks after infection.

The test includes built-in controls, i.e. known positive and known negative specimens are run simultaneously to make sure the test is giving valid results. I've also never heard of a zero result, but maybe the lab just rounds it down if under 0.1, e.g. something like 0.05.  I agree it's not a bad idea to double check with the lab, as someone suggested above.  On the other hand, it seems you've had more than enough testing already to be sure you don't have herpes, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Several type specific HSV IgG tests are on the market. The two most common are HerpeSelect, which is owned by Quest Labs, and the Captia test done at LabCorp.

[Rosco21]

ok thanks. the values i dont think are increasing but i cannot be certain. i have come across a few other people saying that their tests are actually exactly the same as mine; HSV 1: .01 HSV 2: 0.0 so that leads me to think thats its a lab thing but the results are still negative. are Herpeselect and Quest the only two companies that offer the IGG type specific test?

[Rosco21]

ok thanks. the values i dont think are increasing but i cannot be certain. i have come across a few other people saying that their tests are actually exactly the same as mine; HSV 1: .01 HSV 2: 0.0 so that leads me to think thats its a lab thing but the results are still negative. are Herpeselect and Quest the only two companies that offer the IGG type specific test?

[Rosco21]

Also do you think that the fact that i have a 0.1 and 0.0 hsv 1 and 2 test reflect the fact that i dont have any antibodies? O saw a post from a user on this forum saying that evvveryone tests have alittle value to them, say .33 for example. Lifesave360 told me that there is nothing abnormal about that, do you agree?

[Rosco21]

Hello bigtime thank you for your reply. The tests that i have used are IGG type specific but i do not know the brand that is being used. I am in canada if that makes a difference. I heard that the herpes type 2 test is also alot more accurate then type 1.  im assuming terri has seen and diagnosed thousands of herpes cases so our situation is extremely unlikely correct? I was told by my doctor that i should and need to consider my results of 12 weeks conclusive and move on because its affecting my life. He only did this 4 month test because he wants me to have the peace of mind. Also im assuming that all of ur swabs have come back negative until this point?

Thank you again.

[Bigtimeworried55]

Rosco, theoretically yes, that is possible. However, it is very rare. I believe Terri Warren (a herpes expert) on the expert forums states in her 32+ years of practice she's only had I think less than 10 people culture positive, yet consistently test negative via blood. So yes, it's possible.

Keep in mind, Terri tests her patients with the WesternBlot and IGG HerpeSelect tests. When reading the forums, the type of tests these individuals take is very important. Some people test via IGM but culture positive or maybe tested negative via blood because it was a recent exposure or a new exposure, but had lesions swabbed positive. Many factors play here.

Your situation is eerily similar to mine. I had disturbing symptoms, a itchy lesion occur in the same spot on my shaft, and also a single blister. The difference is I swabbed every sore or lesion I had on top of the blood tests.

I'm now 8.2 months from exposure and my recent test this week was negative still for both types. My gut feeling is your result won't change even fast forward to where I'm at 8 months later.

My recommendation to you is to swab any and all lesions on your genitals within 48 hours to erase doubt as it pertains to the lesion being herpes. If negative and negative blood, at least you have done everything you can to chase a diagnosis. It's the best we have right now unfortunately. Good luck.

[Rosco21]

Lol i see ur point but what i meant to say was is it true that a % of people will never test positive for HSV 1 or 2 even tho they r in fact positive? I read through a bunch of forums and it seems that some pll will never test positive on a blood test but will have say a positive culture. Ive never had either but i keep getting these odd symptoms on my penis in almost the exact same spot (recently a tiny paper cut like area on my penis, never any blisters or huge open sores) ive unfortunately never cultured one of the spots yet. I have however had a negative HSV 1 and 2 test result 84 days after my last exposure, waiting on my 4 month results now, took the test yesterday.  

[Life360_Dave]

On those with no immune system.

[Rosco21]

Hello again! Sorry to bother but i have one more question i was hoping u can help me with. Is it true that some people never develop antibodies to HSV? Im nervous that i may be one of those people!!! Or are the newer versions of the test more sensitive then before?

[Rosco21]

Ok sweet, thank you!!!

[Rosco21]

Ok sweet thank you!!

[Life360_Dave]

Nothing odd and a tetanus shot would not interfere

[Rosco21]

Also would a tetanus shot interfere with any HSV testing?

[Rosco21]

So u wouldnt think anything odd with my results? The negative is negative.

Thanks life360 :)

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, they can be single digits like a .1 or double digits like 1.5. Most tests use values that anything below 1 is negative. Others like the immuno blot use less than 200 for example. Its just the testing numbers each lab uses.