What does very low HSV-2 IgG mean?

[manicmarvin]

I had posted this on STD forum, re-posting here per suggestion of a member.

Hello there,

My test result for HSV-2 lgG is 0.61, and the lab labeled it as positive.

The lgM test is negative (<1). There is a high chance that I got my girlfriend recently infected, possibly during viral shedding, or somehow it was triggered during vigorous intercourse. (Just guesses, there is no way I can know for sure)

From what I've read, I inferred that the low amount of antibodies mean that the infection is old. Because a high amount of antibodies do not mean that the disease is getting weaker, on the contrary they think some other mechanism in the immune system reduces the potency of the infection throughout time. Probably a terrible way to explain this, but is this the right conclusion to draw? I remember that many years ago I had seen some small scab on my genitals but I had dismissed it. Perhaps that was Herpes? Can it be so mild that it can be completely ignored?

Thanks a lot in advance, I'm really confused about this, I wish I had known earlier, I feel sorry that I got someone else infected.

Thanks,

[gracefromHHP]

it gets confusing I know when you post to someone else's post on the std expert forum and it automatically boots it into std and then they tell you to post here. thank you for your cooperation  ( and patience ).

a hsv2 igg of .61 is negative. double check the results to make sure you posted it right if they told you it was positive.

has your gf ever had a herpes blood test done?

grace

[manicmarvin]

OK, here is what complicates things further, the lab states on the result sheet that a value of <0.3 would be considered negative. So, uh, could it be another kind of number?

She didn't get a herpes blood test. I told her to get one. I don't know if she will, should she? And should I get re-tested later?

[gracefromHHP]

This isn't a test I am familiar with then if that is the range.  it's not the captia or the herpeselect evidently.

indeed, your partner needs herpes testing. just knowing your status is only 1/2 of the picture.

what triggered you to get tested?

grace

[manicmarvin]

Well, it's rather interesting because they haven't written exactly what test it is, I'll ask them. I checked the result sheet and the units are the same as other tests.

I got tested because my girlfriend's physician diagnosed her with genital herpes. I know that I do have HSV-1, so I tested for HSV-2 IgG and HSV-2 IgM (they seem to have a type-specific IgM test). The IgM test turned negative, the IgG test yielded this result.

[gracefromHHP]

I even checked with Terri and she has never heard of a test used in the US that would consider anything over .3 to be +.  sorry, wish I could help more.

grace

[manicmarvin]

The people at the lab are nuts. They declined to reveal the brand of the test because they want to keep it secret from competitors.

At any rate, I will find the lab assistant who performed the test in person and ask him. I'm not pleased with their attitude.

The value 0.61 is given as IU/L units. They assured me that their tests are world class (if that means anything). I have a guess, though.  In Omega Diagnostics's lab manual for the HSV-2 IgG2 test, they have written that optical density values in the 0.3-0.9 range are considered "low positive" (can be found with the google query "omega hsv-2 0.3 low positive"). Although as in other tests, the interpretation of any value smaller than 0.9 is negative.

I think the lab assistant may have misread the manual and written positive for the value of 0.61, while it should have been labeled negative (and maybe add a "low positive" comment?). I did bias them towards HSV-2, I told them I expected positive so it's quite possible. When I find out more, I will post on this thread. It's interesting though, my value is pretty close to 0.9, could this be a false negative? Should I take an HSV-1 test as well? Should I be re-tested sometime later? Is there a recommended test brand that I can check with other labs?

Thanks a lot for your help by the way, it's appreciated. I've been feeling really guilty about this, my girlfriend positively hates me for giving her a disease.... That doesn't need a test.

[gracefromHHP]

I really don't think yours is positive though.

how was she diagnosed? does she have hsv1 or hsv2?

grace

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Hi Marvin,
It would be most helpful for me to sort this out if you provide me the name and phone number of the lab.  I can call them on behalf of a patient, and find out more about the test that they use.  Do you want to get that to me?
Terri

[manicmarvin]

@grace: thanks for the reply! she was diagnosed only through physical examination, her physician was sure that she had hsv-2 so she didn't (strangely) order a blood test. it's pretty certain that she has herpes of either kind, she's recovered now from her primary episode, but i think we can't know for sure if it was hsv-1 or hsv-2, despite the claims of her "expert" physician.

@terri: thanks a lot, i think i'd prefer to figure it out on my own. i'll just talk to someone who knows better at the lab.

thanks again for listening to my mysterious situation.

[gracefromHHP]

one omega lab I found online has been bought by quest. if that is the same lab chain then it is the herpeselect you had done and you are negative.

the only other omega lab chain I could find only seems to do drug testing for businesses so I doubt that's the one you used.

grace