How likely is my result a false negative?

[bethygirl]

So, a couple of months ago I went to the sexual health clinic after learning my partner (at the time) had cheated and I had very intense itching. She gave me a vaginal examination and noticed a 'tear' at the top of my vulva so she said it was necessary to do a herpes test alongside the standard sti test. This result came back negative and the cut dissapeared, my presumption was that this cut was caused by excessive itching. Almost 4 weeks ago I was treating myself for thrush which wasn't clearing it was very itchy again and I had this 'tear' again at the top of my vulva. I took a further look in the mirror and I noticed 'open sores' on my vulva, not in a particularly place just all over. I made an appointment at the sexual health clinic for the next day. She took a look and said she was pretty certain it was herpes so did a herpes culture swab test and gave me acyclovir treatment. These open sores went but the 'tear' remained there. This tear got VERY painful and was bleeding so before I got my second herpes test back I went back to the clinic. She took a look on the system and my herpes test came back NEGATIVE. So that's now 2 negative results. She took a look and was like wow I would definitely say this is herpes, she said false negatives are common (however this would now be 2 false negatives) so she took ANOTHER swab test, this time it made the 'tear' bleed it was so sore. I am still waiting on my 3rd result (which I'll get on Monday). I got so fed up so the next day I went to the GP instead of the clinic and she took a look and said it looked like a staphylococcus bacterial infection to her (my mum recently had facial impetigo which she said there's a possibility could be passed on through towels). I've been on antibiotics for a week, the tear is almost gone but today my vulva has started to swell and has become very inflamed and sore, I just took a look and there is some small cuts near my entrance to my vagina but no ulcer/blisters. Why is this happening? Are my results are false negative? Could it be something else? I'm really panicking myself about the likes of HIV, does this sound like HIV to you? What other STIs could it be? (My gonnorhea, chlamydia and syphilis all came back negative at the same time as my last herpes test). Thanks for any help you can give.

[bethygirl]

UPDATE:I went back yesterday to the clinic because I'm still panicking like hell thats it's HIV although I'm know I'm being irrational thinking that. My most recent test result still isn't back yet unfortunately. I had a test for absolutely everything and the reason for the this most recent inflammation is thrush. She said I have a very severe case which she thinks was brought on as a side effect from the antibiotics I took from the GP last week. She said this won't be the cause of the previous ulcers etc. Not my luck getting all these itchy painful sores followed by severe thrush right in the middle of my alevel exams! Ah!

[Life360_Dave]

Hi also, first time outbreaks can occur in numerous areas of the vaginal area but established infections only occur on one side. Since this started a couple of months ago, any new outbreaks would only be on one side. I would rule out herpes. Also the swabs were done on active sores and this is very realistic that the results of the swabs are true negatives that its not herpes.
As Don suggests do have a back up blood test.

[feelingundone]

Hi bethygirl
I will try and help. First off sorry to hear about your trouble.
The swab tests could be false negatives however having two of them and taking in account they did the culture correctly cuts down a bit on the possibility of false negatives. I would ask for a type specific igg test. These tests look for antibodies your body builds and not the virus.

[notmymojo2]

Trust my I know it's scary. Try and focus on your exams and take your mind off of it for a while.

[notmymojo2]

Like I said I've never seen herpes at straight knife cuts that just doesn't happen honestly. And if you look up blisters and bumps into google there's literally like 13 different things that pop up and herpes is just one of them. You said he was cheating on you so you were probably having sex without a condom I'm assuming? My ex girlfriend had something like that, she was freaking out and thought it was herpes. Went to doctor to get checked before she actually showed me and when she showed me there were 3 massive lumps it was kinda weird, but it turned out to be inflammation and acne, that's all, herpes has no discharge there full of clear liquid yes but you shouldn't be able to pop a herpe like a pimple. But what I will say is this if this was really a couple months ago, the virus would be thru your entire body by now and any simple blood test would be Able to scan for it. The chance for a false negative would exceptionally slim. I personally cannot tell you what it is. Cause honestly what your describing sounds like herpes but herpes doesn't cause striaght slits in the vagina and it's not HIV or AIDS. I'm 100percent. I'd still stick with the staph. You had 3 tests done and they all came back negative. I'd just stay abstant for a while and ride it out for sure, but it sounds like you're going to be alright.

[bethygirl]

Also I did have scores all over my vulva as mentioned in my original post. But they werent puss filled blisters, they were just asthough skin had broken off my skin in circular patches across my perineum. They looked similar to one photo I saw on google images of herpes but different to all the others

[bethygirl]

Thanks for your reply. Are you pretty certain this isn't HIV? I'm in the middle of my alevel exams and I can't concentrate due to this genuine worry. I haven't slept with anyone high risk (I've only ever slept with 5 people) however one I didn't know which was stupid I know which is why I'm worrying about it.

My cut(s) are 2 vertical slits each side of my clit which are straight like a knife however all 3 sti clinic nurses said they looked like herpes. But I just don't get why id get more than one false negative like they're suggesting. Fair enough 1 but surely I wouldn't get more that one.

I was hoping my GP is correct however I've been on flucloxacillin for the past 7 days and now this inflammation has started again so surely it can't be staph infection.

This uncertainty is ruining me and my exams and I'm really struggling to cope with this

[notmymojo2]

I'm no doctor but let me tell you that HIV wont make tears in your vagina Physical appereances on your body aren't a result of HIV. also if your cut was actually a straight looking cut like someone did with with a knife then its not herpes, herpes make pussing sores not slits in you vagina, i would listen to your GP and go with the staph. if you had 3 negatives.... i don.t know how much more accurate you get get. hope that helps a little bit.