what should i do with test results

[gianb]

Hello,

I recently went to the doctor because my penis was red and soar, mostly around the head and the doctor diagnosed me with balanitis. The doc took some blood work and three days later I get the call, I tested positive for hsv II, the Igg was 2.15. of course I started freaking out because I have been married for 2 years. I started reading all about false positives and the western blot test etc. now I have never had an outbreak however, my wife did have what looked like a white head on her vagina but it went away in a few days and didn't really look like the traditional herpes. She went to go get tested a few days ago and she even got a papshmear so waiting for the results. Anyways I went to get retested and asked for the western blot but not sure what the doc ordered. Now it came back 1.55 so the doc gave me suppressive therapy so now I don't know what to do. I mean we both have had unprotected sex with other partners in the past so we are not blaming each other and we are willing to just work around this issue. There is a ton of information on line and its very overwhelming. So my question is my first test was October 11 2013, the second test was October 17, did I test to soon? Is anything below 3.5 a false positive? Should I take the suppressive pills? I'm so confused and tired of this issue lingering in my head. Please any guidance would be helpful.

[Fleetwood20]

You are as mentioned in the low positive territory.

I agree no point taking meds on the basis of what you have learned thus far, unless you have a recognizable outbreak.

Wait for your wife's results, obviously a positive for HSV2 means there is a chance you are infected or could be in future. If negative and you are still concerned then the Westernblot is a good idea.

[gianb]

Oh ok thanks, that clears that up. All I know is that my first test was 2.15 and the second test was 1.5 and I have read about the false positive and that true positives are 3.5 and higher, not sure if this is true. I don't even know if I should start taking the meds  

[Fleetwood20]

Yes the WB looks for IgG antibodies. They must have done the same commercial test you had previously. With WB, just to expand my earlier comment, the results are expressed as Detected or Not Detected (and rarely Equivocal or something similar). There are no numbers as per commercial ELISA tests.

[gianb]

I'm thinking they did the same test, so the WB also test with IGG?

[Fleetwood20]

Definitely not the Westernblot. The possible results are Detected and Not Detected with WB.

[gianb]

ok will find out if they can confirm. I didn't think it was since it came back in just 4 days.

[Life360_Dave]

There are a few type specific tests and the WB is one of them. You really need to confirm if these are false positive with such low values. As mentioned, when retesting you need to do a different test than the first one. Find out if this was infact the WB. I dont think is was as they need to send your blood work to washington state.

[gianb]

Sorry but you said the HSV TYPE 2-Specific AB, IGG is the Western Blot then? And if so I should start the therapy?

[Life360_Dave]

Yes and if it was the WB its pretty accurate.

[gianb]

also the test says HSV TYPE 2-Specific Ab, IgG So is that the WB?

[gianb]

I will try to call them and see. Will the WB also use an IGG value?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi. Having back to back low positives is a little trickey to analize. For all practical purposes you are comfirmed positive. You need to find out what the second test was for sure as should be a different test than the first one.

You only tested to soon if this was a newly acquired infection. What i would do at this point is take the biokit which is hsv2 specific.