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Low Positive Herpeselect test 34 weeks
Dr. Warren,
Hello, I have posted before previously and i will just give you a brief update. About 34 weeks ago i engaged in a risky exposure and began feeling many shooting and tingling pains down my legs with some redness on my penis but have never had open sores. I tested at 7 weeks via Herpeselect Immunoblot which came back negative, I then tested at 13 weeks post exposure also via Herpeselect immublot which also came back negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. I told you i was still concerned because i still had strange symptoms and redness on my penis that hasnt really gone away at all for about literally 5 monthes. You told me to wait until week 14 to get tested again if i remained unsure. Recently i have begun to start a new relationship and wanted to be 100% positive that my partner was safe. at 34 weeks post exposure (NO other sexual encounters after this) i got blood tested one more time via Herpeselect ELIZA which came back POSITIVE with a 2.4 for HSV-2. I was extremely shocked about this but i have read that anything lower than 3 is risky. I just feel like it would be higher if i had it and now im worried because i do not have healthcare and i cant afford valtrax or anything and have never had what looks like a real outbreak. How am i supposed to refrain from sex if i dont know when im having an outbreak or if the redness is an outbreak but doesnt hurt at all or itch or anything? Please Please help me...do you reccommend i do something else or do you think that i actually am positive??
Hello, I have posted before previously and i will just give you a brief update. About 34 weeks ago i engaged in a risky exposure and began feeling many shooting and tingling pains down my legs with some redness on my penis but have never had open sores. I tested at 7 weeks via Herpeselect Immunoblot which came back negative, I then tested at 13 weeks post exposure also via Herpeselect immublot which also came back negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. I told you i was still concerned because i still had strange symptoms and redness on my penis that hasnt really gone away at all for about literally 5 monthes. You told me to wait until week 14 to get tested again if i remained unsure. Recently i have begun to start a new relationship and wanted to be 100% positive that my partner was safe. at 34 weeks post exposure (NO other sexual encounters after this) i got blood tested one more time via Herpeselect ELIZA which came back POSITIVE with a 2.4 for HSV-2. I was extremely shocked about this but i have read that anything lower than 3 is risky. I just feel like it would be higher if i had it and now im worried because i do not have healthcare and i cant afford valtrax or anything and have never had what looks like a real outbreak. How am i supposed to refrain from sex if i dont know when im having an outbreak or if the redness is an outbreak but doesnt hurt at all or itch or anything? Please Please help me...do you reccommend i do something else or do you think that i actually am positive??
A related discussion, HSV2 herpeselect was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm very glad that you clarified this, not only for yourself but for others who might be reading this board. This is just one more piece of evidence that IgM testing is inaccurate and should never be used.
Terri
Terri
Dr. Warren, I have just received some upsetting YET reassuring news regarding my recent testing. My lab results finally came in through the mail and to my surprise the site in which i ordered my test from accidently tested me for hsv 1/2 IGM!!! The lab technician never told me that the 2.4 was the igM level and i had assumed it was the hsv-2 IGG level that i had originally ordered. After researching herpes for quite some time i obviously know that the igm test in meaningless especially in my situation because my possible infection is definitely not recent. Despite the fact that i am angered that they ordered me the wrong test, i do realize that we are human and everyone makes mistakes! I am going in for the REAL hsv-2 IgG test today and i will post the results regardless, which i am optimistic that it will be negative due to my negative bloodtests at 3 months...I just wanted to clarify this for anyone who may view this post that there was an error and if anyone goes in for testing through these online STD testing sites, make sure you get the paperwork sent to you because it seems like they make these mistakes quite often!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you can't get the western blot ordered through someone in your area, you can become a phone patient of the clinic, and I will order it for you.
Suppressive therapy can be obtained for about $16 per month if you do turn out to be positive by western blot.
I can't help you understand the changes in your ELISA values, I can just recommend that you get clearer with another test, it really is just that simple.
Terri
Suppressive therapy can be obtained for about $16 per month if you do turn out to be positive by western blot.
I can't help you understand the changes in your ELISA values, I can just recommend that you get clearer with another test, it really is just that simple.
Terri
Thank you for the support however i live almost directly across the country from you in new england! However, i am currently seeking a way to order the western blot test. It is just extremely discouraging to go from having a negative HSV-1 and HSV-2 immunoblot test right around the time its supposed to be up to 93% accurate or something along the lines of that and then take this test well after six months and come back with a positive ratio. The only reason i chose to take the HSV-2 ELISA is because i was expecting to see a ratio well under 1.0. I have spent many, many months researching HSV and i promise i am not going to keep this thread ongoing and continuing to ask questions but i was just curious, if i am infact negative, despite this low-positive...why do you think that any antibodies are showing up in my blood at all? As mentioned earlier i am HSV-1 negative and have never had any coldsores in my life. Dr. HHH mentioned in one of this posts that the only reason why some of the values that fall within the 1.1-3.5 "grey area" range is because antibodies of someone who is positive for HSV-1 is showing up on the HSV-2 ratio...in my case however i do not have HSV-1 so i just dont understand why i have any antibodies whatsoever, unless of course i am actually infected with HSV-2...I also wanted to ask you if in your opinion, my low positive result of 2.4 IGG is a good indicator that it may be a false positive given the fact that i havent had any real concrete symptoms other than the vague tingling and pains down my leg as well as red patches only on the head of my penis that seem to stay for months at a time and do not hurt or itch whatsoever...on top of that it has been well over 6 months and i just feel like this ratio should be higher if i was infected over 6 months ago...if this 2.4 ratio had come back at 3 months post exposure i would feel a bit more confident that the test is truly reliable...I am honestly not trying to freak out and have accepted the fact that there is a 50/50 chance i could be infected, however i am on the verge of starting a new relationship and NEED to get this sorted out before anything intimate happens so i can be put on suppressive therapy, Thank you for listening Dr. Warren, it really means a lot to us Americans that work hard yet are unable to afford healthcare and do not have the luxury of talking to a physician everytime we have a question you know? Also, if i do infact test positive on the western blot (not to be a pessimist), how will i go about getting a prescription for suppressive therapy and how much do you think it will cost to someone without healthcare? Any input on anything when you get the time would be GREATLY appreciated Dr. Warren, thank you so much!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I recommend that you get a confirmatory test, a western blot for herpes. Your 2.4 is a low positive, and there is no way to know from that if you are actually infected or not. I have definitely had patients with a test value near that NOT confirm as positive. I want you to come up with the money and get this test done. It is about $110,00. You need to find a provider who uses Quest labs that will order it for you, the code is 34534. If you can't, you can arrange this through my clinic for a minimal office visit charge, and we will order it for you. What state do you live in? I really feel that you can't plan anything for your future without knowing if you are really infected or not, do you agree?
Terri
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
