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Can HSV 2 cause cold sores? Also, equivocal results

I have a very interesting situation. A few months ago (January/February) I got a cold sore for the first time, but I am am prone to ingrown bumps on my face and near my lips so I didn't think anything of it. Around March out of nowhere two sores appeared on my left breast. It didn't hurt or anything but it was there and nothing would make it go away. I went to a dermatologist and she told me it was HSV 1. Not too long ago I went to my annual pap appointment and decided to get tested for herpes. My results came back saying that I was negative for HSV 1 and  equivocal 1.03 for HSV 2. The doctor said she will be treating this as positive. Can someone help me interpret this? I have never had an symptoms in the vaginal/gential areas. All of my symptoms have shown HSV1, hence the cold sore and sore on breast. Is it possible HSV 2 caused the cold sore? Why would I get a cold sore instead of a sore in the genital area? I am just so confused
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15249123 tn?1478652475
Did the dermatologist swab the lesions on your breast or just give you a visual diagnosis?
Hsv1 tests are less than stellar. They can miss up to 25% of infections. Your equivocal is not positive. Hsv testing can be a real pain and often leaves tbe patient more confused then they started.
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She didn't swab, but since I did previously have a cold sore I figured that it was sure to be HSV1 positive.
Hsv2 can be an oral infection but it's far more rare. You may have hsv1 and not test positive. When you get another cold sore or lesion on the breast get it swabbed
Thank you. So my next question is if I don't have HSV2, why are my results saying equivocal? What would make results produce equivocal instead of a solid positive or negative?
Hsv2 tests are very sensitive and can pick up on other odd protiens. If fact any positive result under 3.5 us suspect for a false positive. The odds are 50/50 for a false positive in this range. For you it's not even an issue. Your test was well within the proper testing window and still not positive. When people test to soon (and have contracted the virus) they can get an equivocal result as the body hasn't built enough detectable antibodies yet.
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