Complicated Positive then Negative results...

[PeteyJones]

Three years ago I was diagnosed with HSV but not type specific. I had a piece of my skin with the infection cut off and sent to be tested and the results were "Compatible with herpes simplex/varicella zoster viral infection." I lived 2 years with no break outs and also taking Valtrex suppressive therapy then got tested again with an IGG test and my results were HSV 1 - 0.07 and HSV 2 - 0.73 (<0.90 being negative). A year later I got tested again and my results were HSV 1 - 0.06 and HSV 2 - 0.79. I was on Valtrex when I took the tests, does this affect the results and do I even have HSV?

[gracefromHHP]

even the WB won't be the best answer for you since if it only comes up as hsv1+, you still have to wait for symptoms to confirm if your hsv1 is oral or genital.

could it be that you really don't have genital herpes? indeed that very well might be the case. the other option is that you have hsv1 genitally which tends not to reoccur much at all and is harder to detect on blood tests too.

[PeteyJones]

I've been off the Valtrex for 6 months with no outbreaks. I've only had the one initial outbreak and it's never happened again. Could the IGG test be wrong and I do have the virus? Should I get the Western Blot test done. I have good insurance that will pay for it. I do not want to spread the virus to my girlfriend that does not have the virus. Thanks for your time.

[gracefromHHP]

a biopsy isn't a good way to diagnose herpes. lesion cultures or pcr swabs are much better.  there is a high false positive rate with that sort of testing.

at this point, I'd stop suppressive therapy and wait for a return of symptoms. be seen within 48 hours of any genital symptoms for a lesion culture or pcr swab.  make sure if they do a lesion culture that they are also typing it too to know if it's hsv1 or hsv2 going on.

best of luck finally getting to the bottom of this! wish you had found us 3 years ago.

grace