confusion

[denial10]

Does an IgG 5.37 HSV 2 result indicate an old exposure or a current one?

[denial10]

Thanks Life. You, Howard, & everyone have helped me keep my sanity through all of this.

[Life360_Dave]

Sorry i just realized you did have a second test is is also positive. This would pretty much confirm you do have both. Just avoid sex if you have any tingling or genital irritations. You can down load the herpes handbook by terri warren for tips and other information about hsv1 and 2.

[Life360_Dave]

I would advise as howard suggested and have the western blot test to confirm all of this.

[denial10]

Great! So, other than using condoms, what do I do to keep from passing it to my partner?

[Life360_Dave]

Yes they can fluctuate but not turn into a negative, and they are correct about suppression therapy.

[denial10]

Does the result of a HSV1,2 IgG change from time to time? I was tested in June HSV1 53.20 & HSV2 5.37. I was tested last week and today's results read HSV1 61.40 & HSV2 7.85.
I asked about suppression therapy and was told as long as I had no lesions(outbreaks) or recurrence I did not need suppression therapy.

[denial10]

I'm constantly reading that you shed whether you have outbreaks or not. Therefore, I don't understand why my doctor told me don't worry about it if I've never had an outbreak. He's never discussed suppression therapy before. I learned about it on this forum.

[denial10]

They are already typed as I stated above, however, he sent me to the lab (outside of the office) to get blood work for typing. Also I read the paperwork he gave me to take to the lab it said HSV2 typing specific. The plebotimist drew only one vial of blood.

[HowardH]

You might have misunderstood your doctor, either in the initial test report or his plan to do a typing test. From your report above, your blood test has already been typed as both HSV1 and HSV2. But maybe he has requested a Western blot test, which I already suggested above.

Either way, it sounds like your doctor is on top of this and will be able to provide you with final answers pretty soon.

[denial10]

The Dr. ordered a typing for HSV 2 a few days ago. What does typing mean? I am so very new to all of this.

[HowardH]

We seem to be seeing more and more questioners reporting such very high numbers. There must be a new test on the market, or an old test may have been recalibrated; I don't know what's going on.  However, with the heretofore standard IgG tests, when the HSV1 result is strongly positive HSV1 and HSV2 has a much smaller number, the HSV result is false.  On top of this, it's often reasonable to confirm any unsuspected positive result. So I recommend you speak to your doctor about having a Western blot test to confirm for sure whether you are infected with HSV1, HSV2, or both.

[Life360_Dave]

Whats good is that you dont have any outbreaks which is not unusual. Many dont.

[denial10]

I don't know what to do now. Dr. keeps saying don't worry about it. Maybe because I have no symptoms. He hasn't mentioned suppression therapy to me. I learned about suppression therapy from reading this forum. I don't anyone to confide in.

[Life360_Dave]

Hsv2 genital is more of a issue than hsv1 oral.

[denial10]

Yes, exactly. Had I not seen the copy of the results I would not have known about HSV1. Why did he specify 2 with no regard for1.  2 was more than enough but now I see 1 is positive as well. I have not had ANY symptoms in my entire life. Therefore, I can't begin to find a timeline. This is a dark time in my life.

[Life360_Dave]

So your positive for hsv1 and 2 with a 53 for 1 and 5.37 for 2?

[denial10]

When the Dr. confirmed HSV he said it was HSV 2 ONLY. Shocked, I didn't think about seeing the results. I ask for a copy of the results recently. Low and behold, it read IgG 53.20 HSV 1. Why would he specify HSV2 only?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, difficult to answer, could be a few months to years.