Test results and hyptotheticals

[domnyc]

Ive been dating a girl for 5 months.  She has had active HSV-2 infections for about 10 years.  She takes 500mg of Valtrex daily.  After about 3 months of dating, I got a Herpeselect test, just to see where I stand. We have been having unprotected sex.  I have had no symptoms ever to my knowledge.   I took this test two months ago and have not retested.

Result HSV1 = 0.31 Negative
Result HSV2 = 1.03 Equivocal

I have read your answers to many posts about anything below 3.0 as not a real positive result.  However, I have also read your posts that state early infection tends to show low results.  Im not sure if I should get retested.  If you say, probably not HSV2 positive, am I just on borrowed time if I continue to have unprotected sex?  I know its a hypothetical, but what are the real odds of me getting it?  The Valtrex studies seem to be quite convincing that transmission can be very rare while one partner is on Valtrex.  

My doctor that performed the test only repeated what Quest writes on the result page and doesnt seem to want to answer any questions about the result or Valtrex.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[gracefromHHP]

WB is still a 4 month post encounter wait too.  

Why consider it playing russian roulette? If you were sick, went to the clinic and the doc said - dom, you have a very common infection and this medication I"m going to give you is 98% likely to clear it up but if it doesn't , come back and see me again - would you go - yo doctor dude but 98% isn't good enough so don't waste my time with that nonsense and give me something that is 100% guaranteed to cure me?  You aren't using condoms so I assume that your gal is on the pill.  With ideal use the pill has a 1% failure rate/year.  Typical use is 8%/year. Shouldn't you be far more worried about a baby than herpes?  Just put it in some perspective :)  Also using condoms will reduce your risk of contracting hsv2 even more too in addition to her being on suppressive therapy and you avoiding sex anytime she has genital symptoms.  


grace

[domnyc]

I thought the risk was probably about what you said.  I guess 4 months is the  about how long I need to wait according to what I read here.  I feel like Im playing russian roulette, but I dont know the outcome until almost half a year later...that *****...will a western blot pick it up quicker?

[gracefromHHP]

Your risk of infection with a female partner who is on suppressive therapy and you avoid sex whenever she has any genital symptoms is on average 2% /year.

Your choices are - repeat your blood test in a few months to see if you've gotten up into the true positive range or you can just assume that no symptoms means no infection as long as you are with this partner and just not worry about it unless you either see symptoms in the genital area or should the relationship end get tested to see what your status is 4 months after the last time you had sex. Personally I recommend the latter but that's just my 2 cents.

grace