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HSV 2 Low positives
About 5 weeks ago, I had unprotected sex and got tested out of anxiety. I asked for everything and the doctor tested me for HSV 1 + 2 despite me having 0 symptoms. HSV 1 igg was positive at >8.0. HSV 2 igg was positive at 2.0. Because this was a low positive, it reflexed to inhibition testing. The igg was retested on a different platform to establish inhibition, but that igg came back negative, so inhibition was not determined.
Fast forward to now, I got retested last week and my HSV 2 igg levels came back at 1.27, still a low positive but the antibodies dropped. Reflexing back to the inhibition test again. Haven't gotten those results yet so I'm freaking out.
I've never had any symptoms for HSV2. Could my high levels of HSV1 be cross-reacting my results? Also, I have had COVID twice and been vaccinated, is it possible that this is tripping it up?
I'm an anxious mess, can someone reassure me that there is a high likelihood that this is probably a false positive? Or just give some insight into my situation. Thank you
Fast forward to now, I got retested last week and my HSV 2 igg levels came back at 1.27, still a low positive but the antibodies dropped. Reflexing back to the inhibition test again. Haven't gotten those results yet so I'm freaking out.
I've never had any symptoms for HSV2. Could my high levels of HSV1 be cross-reacting my results? Also, I have had COVID twice and been vaccinated, is it possible that this is tripping it up?
I'm an anxious mess, can someone reassure me that there is a high likelihood that this is probably a false positive? Or just give some insight into my situation. Thank you
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is probably a false positive hsv2 test. Your index value - the numbers - dropped, and didn't go up, indicating that you most likely don't have it. Anything below a 3.5 has at least a 50% chance of being a false positive, and the lower the number, the higher the chance it's a false pos.
It takes up to 12 weeks to know for sure, though, so stop testing until 12 weeks.
It's not reacting to covid or the vaccine, but it could be reacting to the hsv1. The blood test, in theory, looks for antibodies, but what it really does it look for things that have similar molecular weights as hsv2 antibodies. Hsv1 antibodies might be included here, but normal blood proteins can also be detected.
So don't test again until 12 weeks, and then see what it says. Or you can wait until 12 weeks and get a Western Blot test. That's a far more expensive test, but it's a lot more expensive one. We can talk about that if we need to when the time comes.
So hang in there, and don't worry.
It takes up to 12 weeks to know for sure, though, so stop testing until 12 weeks.
It's not reacting to covid or the vaccine, but it could be reacting to the hsv1. The blood test, in theory, looks for antibodies, but what it really does it look for things that have similar molecular weights as hsv2 antibodies. Hsv1 antibodies might be included here, but normal blood proteins can also be detected.
So don't test again until 12 weeks, and then see what it says. Or you can wait until 12 weeks and get a Western Blot test. That's a far more expensive test, but it's a lot more expensive one. We can talk about that if we need to when the time comes.
So hang in there, and don't worry.
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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.
