Equivocol test and worried

[Jasons4330]

8 weeks 3 days ago I had sex and the condom broke.  I did not know the girl well but she informed me she was not infected with anything.  I have had no symptoms but in general have always been somewhat of a hypochondriac.  At 7 weeks 4 days post exposure I went and recieved a herpes select elisa test for HSV1 and HSV2.  The results were negative for HSV2 and equivocol at .92 for HSV1.    I have been examining myself daily from that exposure and have not noticed anything that resembles genital herpes.   I have been freaking out since receiving the .92 on the HSV1 blood test and every morning I am expecting to be suffering from a primary outbreak.     At 8 weeks is it still possible to suffer a primary outbreak ?   Also what is the likely hood that I will test positive for HSV1 or HSV2 at the twelve week mark  I have a very healthy immune system and was not infected with HSV1 prior to this exposure.   I appreciate any help you can provide as this last 8 weeks has been fulled of anxiety for me.

[Jasons4330]

Terri I wanted to let you know my results from my 16 and a half week igg.  Hsv1 and hsv2 negative!!!  I want to thank you for being patient with me. I nearly lost my mind this summer for no
good reason! Thank you

[Jasons4330]

Terri I have decided to try and end my anxiety and scheduled a igg herpeselect test for tommorow morning.  Is their anything I should avoid doing the night before to avoid any false readings? I know the last igg test I took I was on numerous weight lifting supplements and didn't know if they can throw the test off.

[Jasons4330]

Thank you Terri. Two quick questions if the western blot shows I am positive for hsv1 how likely would it have been a new infection from this  encounter?  Every one of my ex girlfriends have had oral hsv and I dated them for a combined 15 years.  Also to put my mind at ease alittle if I had zero antibodies for hsv1 and hsv2 and became infected genitally in may, is it safe to say the odds are I would have had a classic outbreak?  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Yes, if you were my patient, I would recommend that you spend the money on the western blot rather than the ELISA because the ELISA is not a great test for sorting out HSV 1 infection.

Terri

[Jasons4330]

I'm abit confused you don't think that doing another herpeselect igg test through STD express will help? I tested equivocol at 7 weeks 3 days for hsv1 with the igg test. Originally I planned on retesting at week 15 or 16 with the igg test again which is why I went to my doctor.   If it was negative for both hsv1 and hsv2 I would have finally put this behind me.  Do you think I should have the westernblot at week 16 rather than the igg herpeselect?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Well, if you want to know for certain if you have HSV 1, then yes, the western blot would answer that question.  If you were my patient, I would recommend it if you wanted to know about your HSV 1 status.  I'm not at all clear that doing another ELISA through STD express is going to help you at all.

Terri

[Jasons4330]

Thank you Terri. My equivocol of .92 was for hsv1.  The hsv2 was negative... If positive for hsv1 would I still need a western blot?  I was also at my yearly doctors appt on Thursday and requested a second igg test. He asked what my basis for the test was and told me with no symptoms he would not order one.   I can go thru STD express and get a 2nd test this week.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

A false positive can happen, that is correct.  However, with your test being .92, I'm thinking you should be retested.  If it comes back positive, you can always have a western blot antibody test to confirm a positive.

Terri

[Jasons4330]

Terri, 8 weeks has passed since my last igg test. My anxiety has eased alot and I have not had anything resembling a breakout, no cluster of blisters, itching, or anything.  In 15 weeks since being with this girl would I have noticed something if I was infected?  Also do you recomend another igg test with no symptoms ? I am fearful of a false positive which I read can happen.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think its too late to have this swab tested.

Terri

[Jasons4330]

Terri, to update I do not know if they would even be able to swab it ? The bump is already gone and now there is only a pinhead sized red scab from popping it ?

[Jasons4330]

Terri quick question near the left base of my penis a small red bump showed up today. IT is well down the base almost where the penis attatches to the body. I squeezed it and some puss and blood came out. I just shaved that area a few days ago and small hairs are growing in around the bump. should i go see the doctor for this ?

[Jasons4330]

Thanks Terri,  do you believe I will retest positive?  I have been a wreck over this.  I did not have anything which even resembled a blister in almost 9 weeks since my possible exposure.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The 0.92 on the HSV 1 test is not really a positive.  It is equivocal, which means that it is neither positive nor negative.  I would recommend that you wait another 8 weeks, and retest.  If you get any symptoms like a blister, I want you to get that swab tested with  PCR test right away.

Terri

[Jasons4330]

Thank you for the response Terri. I meant I never had a cold sore on my lip.  I never had a herpeselect test until last week.  I've led a rather boring life prior to this one exposure. I've always been very careful and have only had 2 previous partners whom I was in relationships for 7 years each.  My concern is that from
this exposure I have contracted hsv1 if the genitals. So far I have experienced no sores in 60 days but am concerned I may be asymptomatic and somewhere down the line I will suffer an outbreak.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, at 8 weeks it is not possible to suffer from a primary outbreak.  That would have happened between 2 and 10 days after the contact.  When you say you were not infected with HSV 1 before, does that mean you actually saw a test result that said you were negative for HSV1 in the past?  And what was the index value on your last previous test?

Let me know the answers to these questions and I can help you more.

Terri