Can you test negative for hsv-1 and have it?

[coolguy377]

Hi. I was recently tested for HIV+AID's, and HSV-1+HSV-2. I tested negative for everything.

For HIV+AID's I tested Non-Reactive.

For HSV-1 it says I'm .38.

And for HSV-2 it says I'm .10

The index says 1.10 Positive

Which means I tested negative, which is what my doctor told me. But I still get what appears to be cold sores around my lip area on occasion. It looks like a little pimple on the corner of my lip.

So my question is can I test negative for HSV-1 and have it? That kind of defeats the purpose of getting tested doesn't it?

[gracefromHHP]

even the best blood tests we have, still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. Best thing to do is to be seen when you have your oral symptoms promptly and get a lesion culture done of them.

grace

[smesai]

If you get tested within 6 weeks of possible first exposure to hsv, your blood test may return a false negative and so your lip sores could be herpes and your test may not be detecting antibodies. If you have tested atleast 6 weeks after the possible exposure to hsv and your blood test(at least the herpeselect type specific igg test) is negative then you can be fairly certain you don't have hsv. The false negative rate is 3 in a 100 I think. The gold standard would be the western blot.

[yi3o8]

It's most likely a pimple? If it ever has white puss then it's a pimple. If it ulcerates clear liquid on it's own and scabs up (usually yellowish scabs) then it's HSV. Also, the time frame of pimples is usually much shorter than HSV.