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Herpes IGG test false positive?
Hello.
Ive been having the following problem:
Six months ago I developed some rash and few ulcers on penile shaft. I went to GUM clinic and they had a swab taken as well as blood test for other STIs which all came back negative and swab test was negative for either HSV 1 or HSV 2. However just to make sure I had blood test for herpes at which time it had been over a month since last sexual encounter and exposure(I dont know the exact name of test). The results were the following:
Igg herpes 1&2 positive 11.0
Igm herpes 1&2 negative 0.01
So from what I understood the blood showed that I had been infected with both types of herpes simplex virus.
After that I was very devastated and depressed because of this and was hoping i would never have any outbreaks. Following that blood test, a few months after I developed some kind of cut on my penile shaft again (no blister or whatsoever). I went to GUM clinic again right away and they had swab taken. And again it came negative. And now I have as it seems red rash on penile shaft. It is painless, and it looks as if fordyce spots just inflamed, just a few of them.
So my questions are :
Is it possible to have false positive igg test since swab tests are negative?
Is it possible to have both HSV 1 and HSV 2 genitally in the same place at the same time since I never had oral herpes in my life. What are the chances the test was false positive and what else could cause this rash and cuts.
And what could cause that rash which I mentioned earlier which looks more like fordyce spots that are red or inflamed? Is there any reason to be concerned?
p.s. I had been tested twice for STIs and they all came negative and no other sexual encounter took place since I started having this problem.
Ive been having the following problem:
Six months ago I developed some rash and few ulcers on penile shaft. I went to GUM clinic and they had a swab taken as well as blood test for other STIs which all came back negative and swab test was negative for either HSV 1 or HSV 2. However just to make sure I had blood test for herpes at which time it had been over a month since last sexual encounter and exposure(I dont know the exact name of test). The results were the following:
Igg herpes 1&2 positive 11.0
Igm herpes 1&2 negative 0.01
So from what I understood the blood showed that I had been infected with both types of herpes simplex virus.
After that I was very devastated and depressed because of this and was hoping i would never have any outbreaks. Following that blood test, a few months after I developed some kind of cut on my penile shaft again (no blister or whatsoever). I went to GUM clinic again right away and they had swab taken. And again it came negative. And now I have as it seems red rash on penile shaft. It is painless, and it looks as if fordyce spots just inflamed, just a few of them.
So my questions are :
Is it possible to have false positive igg test since swab tests are negative?
Is it possible to have both HSV 1 and HSV 2 genitally in the same place at the same time since I never had oral herpes in my life. What are the chances the test was false positive and what else could cause this rash and cuts.
And what could cause that rash which I mentioned earlier which looks more like fordyce spots that are red or inflamed? Is there any reason to be concerned?
p.s. I had been tested twice for STIs and they all came negative and no other sexual encounter took place since I started having this problem.
Best Answer
thanks for making it more clear.
Just dont comprehend why doctor said i had both and never said that it was combined test.
And it makes more sense now why both times swabs were negative. How accurate are swab tests?
By the way the place where I had ulcer for the first, at the moment has a small pimple now from which hair grows out. Could it have focculitis.
Im so confused. No doctor could say what it was. I mean I dont care what it was as long as it doesnt reoccur and it is not herpes or at least hsv2 which i read is more likely to cause recurrent outbreaks...
Just dont comprehend why doctor said i had both and never said that it was combined test.
And it makes more sense now why both times swabs were negative. How accurate are swab tests?
By the way the place where I had ulcer for the first, at the moment has a small pimple now from which hair grows out. Could it have focculitis.
Im so confused. No doctor could say what it was. I mean I dont care what it was as long as it doesnt reoccur and it is not herpes or at least hsv2 which i read is more likely to cause recurrent outbreaks...
Yes a type specific test can differentiate between both types. You did not have this test, you'd get two different results.
IgM and IgG can be combined or type specific.
You could have any single or double combination of oral/genital herpes. Most likely of course, oral HSV1.
Yes you can get both types on genitals, this is very rare and does not happen from a single event.
IgM and IgG can be combined or type specific.
You could have any single or double combination of oral/genital herpes. Most likely of course, oral HSV1.
Yes you can get both types on genitals, this is very rare and does not happen from a single event.
Sex was with protection, however condom broke so kept on. It was stupid of me especially it was one off.
I read on the net that this specific test can actually differentiate between types and also why doctor said I had both.
I thought that only IgM tests are combined but not IgG.
So basically I should not rely on this test right? It also means that I could have hsv1 genitally instead of hsv 2?
Also can you answer if a person can have both types on genitals at same time?
I read on the net that this specific test can actually differentiate between types and also why doctor said I had both.
I thought that only IgM tests are combined but not IgG.
So basically I should not rely on this test right? It also means that I could have hsv1 genitally instead of hsv 2?
Also can you answer if a person can have both types on genitals at same time?
Yes you've had a combined HSV1/2 test, that's clear from the results. Believe it or not such a test exists. My comments above were on this basis. It is probably best for you to seek the type specific testing now.
I can't speculate much on the spots. The timing seems a little long for herpes to me. Was the sex unprotected?
I can't speculate much on the spots. The timing seems a little long for herpes to me. Was the sex unprotected?
Thank you for your answer.
Well regarding the test itself I am not sure whether it was type specific or at least I thought it was. When I asked doctor he said that I had both types. And results where as I mentioned that earlier:
Igg herpes 1&2 positive 11.0
Igm herpes 1&2 negative 0.01
So I am kinda confused about it as it was IGG test and I thought IGG tests are type specific.
1)Are you saying that say if I had hsv 1, it could show up as both types?
2)Also for instance if never had hsv1 in my life can I have both types on genitals?
3)The ulcers appeared two weeks after encounter: first it was inflamed painful fordyce spots which went away quite quickly and then this ulcer appeared which was quite itchy. As well as that I developed red small dots on head of penis during that time which went away soon.
Not sure what it could be. Havent had any ulcers ever since apart from these small red pimples on upper shaft which look more like inflamed or irritated fordyce spots. At the beginning it was one and then a few more appeared. They are painless and not itchy. Just red.
Well regarding the test itself I am not sure whether it was type specific or at least I thought it was. When I asked doctor he said that I had both types. And results where as I mentioned that earlier:
Igg herpes 1&2 positive 11.0
Igm herpes 1&2 negative 0.01
So I am kinda confused about it as it was IGG test and I thought IGG tests are type specific.
1)Are you saying that say if I had hsv 1, it could show up as both types?
2)Also for instance if never had hsv1 in my life can I have both types on genitals?
3)The ulcers appeared two weeks after encounter: first it was inflamed painful fordyce spots which went away quite quickly and then this ulcer appeared which was quite itchy. As well as that I developed red small dots on head of penis during that time which went away soon.
Not sure what it could be. Havent had any ulcers ever since apart from these small red pimples on upper shaft which look more like inflamed or irritated fordyce spots. At the beginning it was one and then a few more appeared. They are painless and not itchy. Just red.
Do you or have you ever had oral cold sores?
The test result is not type specific. Hence it means you have HSV1 OR HSV2 OR possibly both. You can conclude which of these three options is the correct one. It is not a false positive.
The most likely situation is that you have an oral HSV1 infection from your youth. 65% of the population would produce a similar test result.
The best you can do now is get a type specific test for IgG HSV1 and IgG HSV2 with two separate scores.
Your negative swab is only a partial indicator that what you had may not be HSV as they can miss the virus in terms of not enough gets on the swab stick.
Nevertheless, get the type specific test to learn more.
Lastly, how long from the sexual encounter to the ulcers appearing? Have you asked the person in question their status?
The test result is not type specific. Hence it means you have HSV1 OR HSV2 OR possibly both. You can conclude which of these three options is the correct one. It is not a false positive.
The most likely situation is that you have an oral HSV1 infection from your youth. 65% of the population would produce a similar test result.
The best you can do now is get a type specific test for IgG HSV1 and IgG HSV2 with two separate scores.
Your negative swab is only a partial indicator that what you had may not be HSV as they can miss the virus in terms of not enough gets on the swab stick.
Nevertheless, get the type specific test to learn more.
Lastly, how long from the sexual encounter to the ulcers appearing? Have you asked the person in question their status?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
Swabs are definitive in the positive but care must be exercised with negatives. I'd suggest if you are negative for HSV2 after 12 weeks then you do not have genital herpes.