Another IGM/IGG Question

[GSM977]

I've read many many posts and understand the IGM test is not reliable-
but my question is about why it's not reliable...
From what I see the test can provide a false positive but does that just mean a false HSV-2? because this test does not differentiate between HSV1 and 2... so if it shows up as positive does that mean you definitely have one of the other and the false positive is just that you don't know which one it is... or can it be a straight false meaning you are clean?
here is my situation-
I am a male - had sex with condom, and received oral sex as well-
washed with soap and water after-and felt dirty so I even used a cheap hand sanitizer from cvs down there- yea it burned a lot - wouldn't recommend that.
Was very sweaty there for the next few days and felt irritation which I thought was from the hand sanitizer
felt burn/itch/pinching feeling scrotum was very red and irritated for like a week- but I did not see any lesions or sores or anything other than red skin and what looked like irritated hair follicles.

4 weeks later had IGG and IGM test done, IGG was negative for type 1 and 2, IGM showed 1.03-
so that is why I am wondering does that definitely mean I now have one or more types of HSV or it is still possible to be negative with a false result. I'm hoping to still be negative and it's just something else but I still feel itching and scrotum gets red.
I understand from reading posts that this test interacts with other viruses like chicken pox variants or Mono but I doubt those would be involved.
thank you

[gracefromHHP]

saliva isn't a good way to contract a std. protected oral sex and protected sex is really low risk.

sounds like you are just anxious and making yourself believe you have had to have contracted something?

[GSM977]

Grace
Thank you for your reply.
After re-reading my original post I see there are some details I should have added. Sorry this will be long.
Any more responses are appreciated.

My actions were my own and there is noone to blame but myself.
I had protected sex and oral sex with one woman.
And the next day again protected sex and oral sex with a second- however as the condom was first backwards and had to be turned around some saliva did touch the end of my penis. Saliva was also everywhere that area then- inner thigh and scrotum as well.
I've always been slightly paranoid in general and my fears are mad worse by the fact that I later found out these two women were sex workers who my friends had paid without my knowledge.
We were celebrating a friends bachelor party in Costa Rica, and since I refused to "party" like the rest of them I thought I would be slightly safer... Obviously not...
My fears were ignited when I found out the truth on the return flight as well as the burning/itching sensation and red irritated skin of my scrotum- more of less where the condom would have ended and the surrounding area...
As I mentioned I felt a sharp pinching pain- but that stopped after 2 days or so... I was also awakesnd several night by severe itching. Most of these symptoms stopped around 3 weeks after-
At  4 weeks I got tested even though i had begun to feel better and the equivocal 1.03 on the igm scares the bejesus out of me.
I've also felt what I think would be tingling?? And again last night the irritated red itchy scrotum happened...
And I've also now noticed what I would describe Asa few teeny tiny bumps again at the base where the condom would have ended... And the skin just looks different- almost thinner and more fragile...
've experienced every symptom people describe- leg pain, lower stomach pain and back pain, once a sharp pain from stomach up diagonally to my back/kidney... And the worst is the irritated/red/itchy skin of my scrotum...and there is a burning sensation that seems to be spreading to my butt- almost as if I'm spreading it while wiping or with sweat.
I'll probably have an ulcer by the time I go back to be tested at 3 months. I don't know if these are real symptoms or my neurotic self.

[gracefromHHP]

there are type specific igm tests. they appear to also have the same false positive issues as the non-type specific ones do.  

washing up after sex doesn't do anything but to make you less sticky. std's don't lay on the skin to work their way down into your body and infect you - they are transmitted during the sex act itself. hand sanitizer is almost all alcohol and was never meant to be used in the genital area either. no surprise that your skin was read and irritated after using it!!!

absolutely nothing you can ascertain about your herpes status from a + igm a month after the encounter. the risk of contracting herpes from a one time protected encounter are very low anyways. your symptoms do not sound herpes like either to think you contracted it from oral sex ( you didn't mention if the oral sex was protected or not ).

totally up to you if you want to even bother with igg testing at the 3 month mark. odds are with as close as you have been watching your genitals, you would've noticed symptoms of herpes.

grace