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Need help getting Western Blot test
I am a male with multiple female partners. I do my best to be responsible, and get a full STD screen every 6 months that includes HSV-1 and HSV-2. I have been showing positive for years for HSV-1 and I'm not worried about it. My most recent test came back positive for HSV-2 using the HerpeSelect test and it was 1.32.
After doing a lot of research, I found multiple references to this test having false positives when the value is less than 3 and showing positive for HSV-2. I asked my doctor to write me a prescription for a Western Blot test to determine if I am positive for HSV-2 or it's a false positive.
On this site and a few others, I found the Quest test number and provided it to my doctor as well, who put it on the prescription. This morning, I go into a Quest collection center and after waiting for about half an hour, they came back and told me they don't offer Western Blot for HSV-2.
How can I get a Western Blot test, hopefully in a way that will be covered by my insurance?
After doing a lot of research, I found multiple references to this test having false positives when the value is less than 3 and showing positive for HSV-2. I asked my doctor to write me a prescription for a Western Blot test to determine if I am positive for HSV-2 or it's a false positive.
On this site and a few others, I found the Quest test number and provided it to my doctor as well, who put it on the prescription. This morning, I go into a Quest collection center and after waiting for about half an hour, they came back and told me they don't offer Western Blot for HSV-2.
How can I get a Western Blot test, hopefully in a way that will be covered by my insurance?
Grace,
I don't know if I'm at the 4 month or 4 week mark! I have no symptoms that I am aware of. I have been in contact with all of my partners, and none of them have any symptoms that they are aware of. Blood work is starting to come back on my partners, so in a few days, I'll know if any of them are positive. To the best of my knowledge, I have not been exposed nor had sex, protected or unprotected, with anybody that is HSV-2 positive. This is why my doctor and I suspect that it's a false positive, and I would like to get some sort of confirming test now, not wait 6 to 8 weeks.
Before anybody says anything, I'm not in denial. While I am in a high risk group because I have multiple partners, all of my partners also get checked on a regular basis and don't have any symptoms either. The combination of no apparent symptoms for me or my partners, the low test results (1.32) and a fair number of references to results < 3 on the HerpeSelect test when it shows positive for HSV-1 (which is does, and has for years) being false positives make me question the results and I want some sort of confirming test sooner rather than later.
I don't know if I'm at the 4 month or 4 week mark! I have no symptoms that I am aware of. I have been in contact with all of my partners, and none of them have any symptoms that they are aware of. Blood work is starting to come back on my partners, so in a few days, I'll know if any of them are positive. To the best of my knowledge, I have not been exposed nor had sex, protected or unprotected, with anybody that is HSV-2 positive. This is why my doctor and I suspect that it's a false positive, and I would like to get some sort of confirming test now, not wait 6 to 8 weeks.
Before anybody says anything, I'm not in denial. While I am in a high risk group because I have multiple partners, all of my partners also get checked on a regular basis and don't have any symptoms either. The combination of no apparent symptoms for me or my partners, the low test results (1.32) and a fair number of references to results < 3 on the HerpeSelect test when it shows positive for HSV-1 (which is does, and has for years) being false positives make me question the results and I want some sort of confirming test sooner rather than later.
the WB isn't accurate until after the 4 month mark. why go thru the hassle of getting it before then when you just have to repeat it anyways?
grace
grace
I tried to get the WB test from my doctor, and it seems difficult. I called Quest and they offer the test, but must be at specific labs. You could call Quest and ask them where the closest lab is that offers the test because they do offer it. The WB from the University of Washington is supposed to be the gold standard. I called the lab in Washington, and they told me to just have my doctor call their lab, however most doctors appear to not want to do the extra work to order the kit. I have seen where some people post on blogs that they actually order their own kit and sent their sample themselves after getting their blood specimen from a lab. Not sure how exactly that works but appears it has been done. Good luck.
My doctor and I both suspect a false positive, and all of my partners believe they were not infected and are getting tested. Personally, I don't want to wait 4 months to find out if this is a false positive or not, so I want to get a different test that is at least just as accurate as the HerpeSelect test to confirm the results or show that it's a false positive.
If your local quest lab doesn' t offer it, ask your provider to order the kit from the U of washington lab and then they can draw the blood and send it off for you. http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm is their website for more info.
If it's been less than 4 months since the last time you had sex with a partner who's status you are unsure about, you need to wait until that time to send off the WB.
grace
If it's been less than 4 months since the last time you had sex with a partner who's status you are unsure about, you need to wait until that time to send off the WB.
grace
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Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
