If you retest with any blood tests again, I'd only use the herpes WB blood test.
Yes, if you had been newly infected and then started valtrex for 2 months, it can delay seroconversion. Labcorp uses the captia test which sometimes takes longer to detect seroconversion too.
At this point you've had a low positive and a negative result. Should you get a return of any rashes in the lower back, buttocks or genital area, go and be seen for a culture and typing. Since you had a questionable rash in an area that could be due to herpes, it's probably worthwhile to repeat your blood test again in a few months just to err on the side of caution.
grace
2 days ago I spoke with my infectious disease doctor about retesting bcause I was worried that the valtrex that I was taking may have affected the results of my last blood test (which btw the 1st and 2nd tests were done at the same labcorp lab). She tried to assure me that the valtrex wouldn't get rid of any antibodies...therefore I am negative and should not worry. But I am...still. I've requested that she send me for additional testing. How can I test positve with actual values, then test negstive with values like <.90? Do u think I should go with the doctors recommendation and let it go or should I be retested yet again? This is becoming tiresome.
At this point I"d stop the valtrex completely if you haven't already and repeat your igg blood test in a month or two just to err on the side of caution.
grace
The test result was for hsv2. I did have a regular partner but after this situation he will not speak to me...so I do not know if he has been tested. After my initial results I told him that he should be tested...
Your first igg was a low positive but I don't think you ever clarified if that was a hsv2 igg result either?
do you have a regular partner? Have they been tested for herpes?
grace
Again...hope im posting this right
So I had another hsv blood test done this time referred by an intectious disease doctor. The results came back negative...didn't get the actual figures...but the doctor told me that both igm and igg were negative. Could this be the result of having been on valtrex twice a day for about 2 months?
the usual igg-specific tests, herpeselect and captia, do not cross-react w/ vzv antibodies (the virus responsible for chicken pox and subsequent shingles).
since your result is in the "false positive" range, and you've had no symptoms, consider confirmatory testing with either biokit or the western blot.
common wisdom is that asymptomatic folk who get a positive value subsequently "learn" to id their symptoms as herpes. if that isn't true for you, definitely think about confirmatory testing.
Does neone have any insight into this?
I originally sent this out to grace...but I'd like to hear from neone else that might have some insight...
Thanx.
Thank you for your comment. I hope I am posting this right. Earlier this month I posted about a possible false positive and you said that you needed the actual test and values...
I called my dr's office today and acquired that information. The medical assistant told me that the report only listed the test as Antibodies. The igm value is 1.08 and the Specific AB igG is 3.124.
What does this mean? Again, I've never had any symptoms...but then again I've read that many people don't. Also, I read in another post by one of the doctors that results should be at least 3.5 to be considered positve. So basically...im still confused. Im wondering if I should be retested, or if that would just be a waste of time.
the igm test for herpes is a poor test in general. ignore those results.
I really can't help you at all with the herpes results until you find out the results of the type specific test.
No, having lyme disease wouldn't affect the herpes igg blood test results.
If your doctor wasn't sure what was going on, it's not likely it was shingles. Most providers can recognize shingles symptoms pretty easily.
If this reoccurs, see a dermatologist promptly for further evaluation.
grace