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Blood Test
After several years of not doing anything on my possible HSV 2 status, I decided to see a specialist at New York Presbyterian hospital. I had been confused about my various conflicting test resuts, i.e. Herpes Select test showed me positive for HSV 2 with scores of: 3.52, 2.01 and 4.29. Western Blot showed me negative on two tests and indeterminate with low level antibody indeterminate for HSV on another.
The doctor had me tested using another Elisa test, not Herpes Select but one from ARUP. The results were negative as follows:
The full name of the test given is: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1/2 IgG & IgM AntiBODY w/ reflex to Type.
1- HSV Type 1/2 Combined Ab, IgG by ELISA ARUP 50286. Result 0.26 negative (Ref range <=0.89)
"Negative-No significant level of detectable HSV IgG antibody."
2- HSV Type 1/2 Combined Ab, IgM by ELISA ARUP 50641. Result 0.21 negative (Ref Range <=0.89)
"Negative-No significant level of detectable HSV IgM antibody."
I would like to accept these recent results as the final answer that I do not have HSV 2. My question is, what if I had one or two glasses of wine the day before the blood test. (I really don't remember as I was just going in for a consultation and I didn't expect to get tested). Can alcohol mess up the results of the Elisa test? Can alcohol lower the antibody count so that the results are a false negative? I do not drink on an ongoing basis, but occasionally have a glass of wine with dinner. I may have had a full glass of wine the night before the test. Just don't recall.
The doctor had me tested using another Elisa test, not Herpes Select but one from ARUP. The results were negative as follows:
The full name of the test given is: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1/2 IgG & IgM AntiBODY w/ reflex to Type.
1- HSV Type 1/2 Combined Ab, IgG by ELISA ARUP 50286. Result 0.26 negative (Ref range <=0.89)
"Negative-No significant level of detectable HSV IgG antibody."
2- HSV Type 1/2 Combined Ab, IgM by ELISA ARUP 50641. Result 0.21 negative (Ref Range <=0.89)
"Negative-No significant level of detectable HSV IgM antibody."
I would like to accept these recent results as the final answer that I do not have HSV 2. My question is, what if I had one or two glasses of wine the day before the blood test. (I really don't remember as I was just going in for a consultation and I didn't expect to get tested). Can alcohol mess up the results of the Elisa test? Can alcohol lower the antibody count so that the results are a false negative? I do not drink on an ongoing basis, but occasionally have a glass of wine with dinner. I may have had a full glass of wine the night before the test. Just don't recall.
i tested 1.2 for type 2 herpes on a blood test; initially i had red spots on the tip and the shaft of my penis. The physician i went to said she didnt think that it was herpes because it was not painful but it was sensitive and she said it could be from having rough sex. i had never noticed symptoms before in my life. She said it was a good possibility that the results are not correct. Then I went to a specialist and he said blood tests don't mean anything. what are your thoughts on it and what should i do?
Grace answered this above: "alcohol has no effect on your blood testing." Move on from herpes.
Actually, I just wanted to know if alcohol in my blood could have created a false negative.
I'm not doing any more testing.
The testing they do at NY Presbyterian is as follows:
Combined test (non type specific).
If any positive result, then they test specific
If still a need, they use Western Blot
They advised me that if I was positive to either HSV 1 or HSV 2, it would show up in the combined test and that there was no need for a type specific test.
They also don't use Herpes Select due to the history of false positives.
What do I know about what specialists should or shouldn't do? I'm just a poor slob who would like to have some peace of mind.
I'm not doing any more testing.
The testing they do at NY Presbyterian is as follows:
Combined test (non type specific).
If any positive result, then they test specific
If still a need, they use Western Blot
They advised me that if I was positive to either HSV 1 or HSV 2, it would show up in the combined test and that there was no need for a type specific test.
They also don't use Herpes Select due to the history of false positives.
What do I know about what specialists should or shouldn't do? I'm just a poor slob who would like to have some peace of mind.
I'm not sure why a "specialist" would order non-type specific testing including igm testing. makes absolutely no sense.
all your previous positives were under 5 and confirmed as negative by WB. really no reason for more testing at this point it appears.
all your previous positives were under 5 and confirmed as negative by WB. really no reason for more testing at this point it appears.
At least six years had gone by and I had not tested. But my situation has changed and it is possible that I will start dating again. I will not, though, if there is any chance that I might transmit genital herpes.
The discussions I had with the University of Washington and with Dr. Handsfield and with Focus Technologies never resolved why Herpes Select kept coming up positive for HSV 2 and Western Blot kept coming up negative.
.
During a routine visit with my Dermatologist, he said that I should have never gotten tested at all, but now that I had opened Pandora's box, I should see an expert in the field to help resolve my issues. So I saw a doctor at New York Presbyterian..
Elisa tests were done and came back completely negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2. But I didn't realize I was going to be tested and had done some social drinking the two days preceding the tests. Two cocktails two nights prior, and one or two glasses of wine on the night prior. I also have a glass of wine every other day or so as a matter of course. I am prepared to accept the negative findings of this latest Elisa, and want to, but I just want to make sure that alcohol didn't create false negatives.
If you would prefer me not to continue posting, that's all right. I apologize if I have overstepped my bounds. Thank you and Dr. Handsfield for all previous help.
The discussions I had with the University of Washington and with Dr. Handsfield and with Focus Technologies never resolved why Herpes Select kept coming up positive for HSV 2 and Western Blot kept coming up negative.
.
During a routine visit with my Dermatologist, he said that I should have never gotten tested at all, but now that I had opened Pandora's box, I should see an expert in the field to help resolve my issues. So I saw a doctor at New York Presbyterian..
Elisa tests were done and came back completely negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2. But I didn't realize I was going to be tested and had done some social drinking the two days preceding the tests. Two cocktails two nights prior, and one or two glasses of wine on the night prior. I also have a glass of wine every other day or so as a matter of course. I am prepared to accept the negative findings of this latest Elisa, and want to, but I just want to make sure that alcohol didn't create false negatives.
If you would prefer me not to continue posting, that's all right. I apologize if I have overstepped my bounds. Thank you and Dr. Handsfield for all previous help.
alcohol has no effect on your blood testing.
you have consulted with the U of washington about your prior test results. you have posted to Dr Handsfield a few years back about them also. Why are you still continuing to test for herpes at this point?
grace
you have consulted with the U of washington about your prior test results. you have posted to Dr Handsfield a few years back about them also. Why are you still continuing to test for herpes at this point?
grace
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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.
