Determining positive culture type

[hummingbird5]

I posted on April 27, and did not get a response, so I assumed my post was too long, and so shortened it the best I could.
On Dec 10, 2008, I was tested for STDs. My boyfriend and I did get intimate a handful of times prior to the appt, with condoms, and several times, the condoms fell off during intercourse. Timeframe would have been mid Nov, 2008 until the Dec 10, 2008 appt. Neither of us had been tested for herpes before, nor did we have any noticeable symptoms. But while I was getting tested for STDs, I also asked for the herpes tests.
My doctor did a visual inspection and said she didn't see anything. She did an external exam at my request, and said I had a yeast infection, and nothing else she could see. As she was removing the speculum, she noticed a small pimple on my buttocks. She said that since I was "overly concerned" about herpes, she could culture it, and we could do the blood tests as well. She educated me about the blood tests. She expected everything to come out negative.

Results:  
All non herpes tests were negative.
Culture, Herpes Simplex Virus with Typing, HSV Culture: Positive for herpes symplex virus. Unable to determine type.
Herpex Simplex Virus IGM AB w/reflex to titer
HSV IGM AB Screen: Not detected
HSV Herpeselect Type Specific AB
Herpes Simplex Type 1 IGG: 0.13
Herpes Simplex Type 2 IGG: 0.31

April 3, 2009: I returned for my annual physical/pap, and we did the additional Herpeselect blood work. At the time, I was at almost 4 months post positve culture result.
Results:
Herpes Simplex Virus IGM AB w/reflex to titer
HSV IGM AB Screen: Detected:  1:20
HSV Herpeselect Type Specific AB
Herpes Simplex Type 1 IGG: 0.12
Herpes Simplex Type 2 IGG: 0.39

The nurse suggested that I come in again in a few months for more blood testing. The type is still undetermined. Unfortunately, I have decided to end the relationship with my boyfriend. I don't know when and if he will go in for the blood testing. Now I don't know when or if he's going to follow up with the blood testing. I followed up with him 2 week's ago and asked him to please get it done. I have not had sex since my last encounters with my now ex-boyfriend.
  
(1) Do you have any comments to provide on why my culture could not determine type, although a type-specific test was done? (2) Let's assume I don't get any additional information from my ex-boyfriend...at least not any time soon. Do you agree that I should get one more blood test at 6 months (which would be in June) in hopes I will get some results there which would shed light on the type? (3) Would the site of the positive culture test provide any additional info in this regard? (4) And for people with my "symptoms" would suppressive therapy be a good bet?

Thanks very much for your time.

[hummingbird5]

Daisy and Grace,
I sincerely thank you for your volunteer work on this site.
I'm going to follow up with the WB blood test per Grace's recommendation.
Daisy, I also thank you for your response.
God Bless

[gracefromHHP]

If you read our read before posting post you'll see that we are all volunteers here and try to answer every post but don't always have time to. It's recommended that if you don't get a reply in 24 hours you post to your post with with "bump" so that it goes back up to the top where someone will notice it. We don't not answer posts because of their length or anything like that.

At this point since it appears your bf won't get tested and provide you with his results, the best you can do is wait and if you get a return of symptoms, be seen within 48 hours of their appearance for a repeat lesion culture.  If you do decide to repeat your blood test in june, I'd only use the herpes WB  ( if your provider uses quest labs it's test # 34534 ).  

I wouldn't start any suppressive therapy at this point since you don't have a definitive diagnosis yet.  You need to confirm infection and type so that when you start a future relationship you can be informed for your partner.

grace

[daisy315]

Quite honestly I would assume I wasn't infected from those results,in saying that I'm not really the best person to comment since I'm not good with the meaning of numbers but the way i would read your results is that you were exposed but didn't actually contract the virus.
It would be an idea to have a good long talk with someone from the STD Clinic who knows what all this means in terms of can you or can't you infect someone else with such low scores .....
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on this I just don't want to say something that may be entirely wrong as far as result figures are concerned ......

Daisy