To Retest or Not?

[glass97]

I had a HerpesSelect IGG 8 months after potential exposure.  Any unprotected sex would have been nearly a year prior to that.  

Tested at Quest with tstd.  

Results were
HSV-1 <.90
HSV-2 <.90

Do I need to retest?

I still get nervous with any little itch or tingle down there.

Thanks!

[Mistakeguy789]

It means that a person can still be missed on the blood test.  Though it is common with a 1 in 10.  It would be more common if it were say 1 in 3 or 1 in 5.  

3 Negative tests is a good sign you don't have HSV.  Time to move on :-)

[glass98]

Hi Grace:

I have a quick question about the statement "Even the best blood tests for herpes still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections."

Does that mean that if you are truly positive for HSV-1 and take 10 tests, its possible that 9 will be positive and 1 will be negative?

I've had three negative HSV-1 tests, is it safe to assume that I am truly negative?

I believe you have answered this before but I searched and couldn't find the answer.  Thanks so much!

[glass98]

Thank you Grace!

You are a wonderful person for helping everyone out here in internet land.   :-)

[gracefromHHP]

It's time to stop thinking herpes and visit your doctor or a neurologist instead.  You've ruled out herpes.  Now it's time to look at back/nerve injuries as a cause instead.

grace

[glass98]

Hi,

I am the original poster in this thread but lost my password so I have re-signed up as glass98. :-)

After I posted this I was still paranoid and had another test.  Results were the same:

HSV-1 <.90
HSV-2 <.90

At the time I was re-tested I was nervous because I was getting burning pain in my buttocks, genitals and down the back of my legs which was recurrent for at least 3 weeks.  Any sexual encounters were approximately 6 months prior and were protected.  

I have had protected sex since the last test in March.  For the past week or so, I have been getting the same feelings again.  When I sit for prolonged periods of time my buttocks and back of my legs burn with pain.  My vagina is itchy on one side between the inner and outer labia.  When I look in the mirror, there is a slightly inflamed area that is sensitive to the touch (it stings when I touch it) but no visible lesions or blisters.

I am nonplussed. I've had two negative herpes Igg blood tests but I keep having these random symptoms that seem to point to herpes.   I am making an appointment for the doctor but I'm just trying to collect my thoughts before I go there.

Thank you so much for your time.

[gracefromHHP]

No reason for further testing - congrats!!!

grace