Herpes: false positive and/or negative?

[differentresults]

I am a 27 year old male. A year and a half ago (August 2009) I feared I had caught something from a sexual partner after unprotected sex. The outbreak occured on the base of the shaft of my penis about 2 or 3 days after contact with that person. All visual symptoms looked like herpes based on pictures I saw on the internet. I went and got a culture test done which came back POSITIVE. After that initial "outbreak" I had about 5 or 6 more "outbreaks" over the course of the next year.

I have since been abstinent but recently starting dating someone. Once we started dating I began taking a daily dosage of Acyclovir 200mg in August of 2010 (one pill twice daily.. one in the morning and one at night) to mitigate the risk of exposing her to what I believe I had and reduce outbreaks. We are having oral sex but not any other type of intercourse. I have not had an outbreak since beginning this daily dosage of Acyclovir. Last week (a year and a half after the culture test and a year and half after the last time I had sex) I got some blood tests done because I was going to reveal to her the fact that I had an STD which I hadn't told her yet and I wanted to get documentation showing it and clearing me of HIV (which came back negative). I had blood drawn and tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 and both came back NEGATIVE! The tests were type 1 and type 2 specific Ab, IgG tests which I am to understand give very accurate results. The lab personnel was confused as to the negative result after a positive culture as was the nurse on hand. I then spoke to the doctor who made it seem that it was normal and I was fine and do not have it an STD because my body fought it off. In the same breath he stated that the STD was now dormant in my system and the negative is a good thing meaning that I cannot give it to my partner but it could come back if I am stressed or come in contact with it again.I am just very, very confused. Do I have Herpes or do I NOT have Herpes? And how can I have gotten a positive and a negative? Is there such thing as a false positive culture test? What does a negative blood test a year and a half after having sex and becoming possibly infected mean?? Does being on daily dosage of Acyclovir affect the blood test and the antibodies?

Please help I am very confused, very concerned, and not sure who to talk to as I don't believe the doctor was very knowledgeable on the subject. I also don't want to tell my partner, a woman who I am very serious about, something wrong that could either drive her away or worse, put her health at risk. Please help.

Thanks.

[differentresults]

I realized after I posted here that it wasn't the doctor's forum, but the members one instead. :) I could always use other insights, though. Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

you also paid to post on terri's forum. continue to follow up there and get your money's worth :)

grace