Why would it take 4 yrs to seroconvert on HSV1 blood test?

[needNanswers]

Question: Anyone know why it would possibly take 4 years to seroconvert on a HSV1 blood test? I was diagnosed via swab test after textbook open sores symptoms after oral, but blood tests taken yearly were not positive until 4 years later.

Does this maybe either mean that my immune system either sucks or is awesome?

[TiminBoston]

The HerpeSelect ELISA is good. It's the test of choice nearly everywhere one can get tested and has proven to be as reliable as any other IgG on the market.  

Google around and try to find any "recent issues". You won't.  Or call the University of Washington dept of Virology (the place that conducts the Western Blot test) and ask a nurse or doctor there what issues they have heard about with the HerpeSelect ELISA.   They won't know of any either.

[chivas619]

So is the HerpeSelect good or bad? I'm trying to figure this testing thing. To much information but nothing seems to be solid! I just had an 18 close to 19 moths post possible exposure of herpes and the test came back negative <.90 both but reading this makes me wonder.

[ehbeedub]

I'm sorry, what do you mean that the HerpeSelect ELISA has been show to have issues in the past few years?

[catinbarefeet]

Not all blood tests are reliable I'm afraid. Here's a chart of the recommended tests, from the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA). The only one to watch out for on this chart is the HerpeSelect ELISA. It's been shown to have issues in recent years.

http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/uploads/pdfs/HerpesBloodTestGuide.pdf

[Fleetwood20]

Commercially available blood tests miss about 10% of HSV1 infections. More than likely you seroconverted within weeks of the infection but are one of those people who at times do not test positive.

Potentially this most recent test is a different manufacturer? Have you gad a Westernblot?