Testing Advice

[testadvice]

I am a 29 year old male and am positive for cold sores for the past 10 years.  ( I do not know if it is type 1 or 2 )

About a month after having sex with a female partner I developed red bumps under the head of my penis. on both the left and right now. They followed the natural curve of my penis and looked to be a necklace of red bumps.  They cleared up with 3 days.

Started freaking out after seeing this and about 2 months after my sexual encounter I developed what seem to be small warts.  Not sure if this can be from my last encounter since I read you can have the wart virus but not have warts. and that stress ( from thinking I have herpes) could trigger them to appear.

I went to my dr. even though it was to early to get a blood test for herpes.  I asked him to take a look at my penis as I thought I have herpes and or balanitis.  He stood about 4 feet away looked at my penis and said I was fine. and gave me a steroid cream.

NEVER going back to him again.  So heres my question.

1.) What kind of Dr. should I be looking for that can give me a good medical advice on the condition that I described above?

2.)  What kind of herpes test should I ask for?

3.)  Since I get cold sores and not knowing if the cold sores on my lip are type 1 or 2. Can this trick my herpes test?  Where if I get my results and they say I am negative for type 1 but pos for type 2, could I just be pos for type 2 on my lips and negative for genital?

Thank you for your time.

[gracefromHHP]

depends on who is ordering the tests - they have multiple choices and boxes to check when they order testing.

[testadvice]

Hm.  It was the same dr. and same lab that did all of my tests.  

but for some reason the last they gave me wasnt igg.  I find that odd that they would be giving me the same tests over the years and then all of a sudden just change it.

[Mistakeguy789]

Some doctors are still behind on testing and believe that IGM tests are the ones to show new infections.  Some doctors forget to order igg tests or some just put herpes and the lab thinks igm.  Regardless no way to know what the doctor was thinking.  Not even sure he ordered one honestly.  But knowing what test was ordered helps us to guide you on the results outcome (handled by grace as shes trained in reading the test).  

[Mistakeguy789]

I am posting here your question from your other thread and will answer the other thread with this link to point readers here for the response.  Just today feb25th 2011 I called my dr. to get hard copies of my test results as I have only been told over the phone that every thing has been negative.  While looking over my paper work I came across some an un pleasant surprise.

Back in 2008 I had my yearly check up along with my std tests done.  

I tested positive for type 1 as I get cold sores

and negative for type 2

My numbers were

4.75 type 1
1.1 type 2  ( now even though it said NEGATIVE could I have herpes type 2 based on those low numbers? )



Now I go back again for my yearly check up in 2009.

They have my chart and I ask and they repeat that I want the same tests I had done before.  ect.

They call me two weeks later and I am negative for herpes.

-----

Now I get my paper work today and the first tests done in 2008 show that I had
type specific herpes igg blood test.

And the second tests done in 2009 just show that I had a herpes test done and it was negative.  No numbers no break down or anything.  

Anyone know why my dr. would do a different herpes test?  and what test did he run?  

I feel as though I have herpes. Never had an out break but have symptoms as does she.  I am worried that my dr. by having another herpes test done has put my girlfriend in jeopardy of getting herpes from me.  

I am going on monday to get retested.  

Any thoughts on why he would of have done this?

-------

Answer:

Different labs have different tests.  There are some test that will come back with just the wording: Negative, Postive or Equivical.  Depending on the lab that did it.  They can find out what test was run if it was an IGG or an IGM and what name.  

Right now you know you have HSV-1 via your cold sores.  It would be rare for you to get it HSV-1 on your genitals.  You need a type specific igg HSV-2 test not an HSV-1 as it will come back positive.  The test can't tell you where your HSV is but knowing you had cold sores makes it simple to say its oral.  If you have an outbreak in your genital area be seen within 24-48hrs for sawb culture and typing.  

[Mistakeguy789]

Please keep your questions on this thread.  This is covered in our read before posting.  :-)  

[testadvice]

I just went to the dr. and had them pull my older test results as I never had a hard copy.  

I am positive for Oral type 1 ( 4.75 )

and negative for type 2, BUT my numbers read 1.1  any thoughts on that?


I am going on Monday to get a test based on my first post.  

I am posting another question too as I seem to have another BIG problem with my dr. and his testing procedures.

Thank you guys for all your help

[gracefromHHP]

having hsv1 orally makes it very unlikely  you would contract hsv1 genitally from a partner performing oral sex on you.  

[JaneDoe456]

my first thought is, take it one step at a time.  Go to a doctor and request to be tested specifically for type 1 and 2 herpes (HSV).  If you've had cold sores (aka sores on the OUTSIDE of your mouth) you definitely have HSV1...as that IS the symptom of HSV1.  If you're referring to sores inside the mouth (canker sores) that isn't HSV.  Either way, your first step is to get tested (IgG tested) for the different types to see if your body has developed antibodies for the virus.

Now, it IS possible to get genital herpes from oral herpes.  So there's a possibility that if you gave your partner oral herpes and she performed oral sex on you, that you contracted genital HSV1.  However, I would assume that this could only be the case if this partner of yours was someone you were with more than once over a period of time as it would take a few weeks for the virus to infect her and then in turn, infect your genital region.  

More than anything just go to another doctor and ask for a blood test to specifically seek out if you're infected with either type, a Western Blot test is (as I've heard many times) the best way to detect either type.

Hope this helps some

[gracefromHHP]

your oral herpes is almost certainly hsv1.

you can get a type specific herpes igg blood test done 3 months after the last time you had sex.

you can follow up on this with any gp , internal medicine provider, dermatologist or std clinic.  

grace