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HSV 2 False Positive? Unsure?
I just was recently tested for HSV 1 and 2 iGG test called herpeselect, (no reason just routine exam). I have never had any out breaks of oral or genital herpes outbreaks to my knowledge and this is the first test I ever have taken for this disease . However, my test results indicated that I was negative for type 1 and positive for type 2 my value for type 1 was .42 and type 2 was 4.18 on the standard herpeselect range (-.90 negitive and +1.10 positive). I have read about false positives and I am interested if I should proceed to take the Western Blot which is more accurate or so I have been told. I am unfamilar with these range numbers and if you could give me some insight this would be great. I also am not sure if I should be on suppresive therapy. I am not sexually active and this has been over many years. Again, this why I am further confused. Thank you for all your help.
your hsv2 igg is above the typical false positive range but since you don't recall ever having any symptoms, probably worthwhile to seek out a herpes WB blood test to confirm your status. how to obtain a WB in the US is listed in our read before posting post on the forum.
should you be on suppressive therapy? if you aren't having symptoms and don't have a partner to protect, no reason to be on it.
grace
should you be on suppressive therapy? if you aren't having symptoms and don't have a partner to protect, no reason to be on it.
grace
Hello sorry I cannot answer you, I am in the very same position, Last week I posted this question http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/is-this-really-herpes/show/1947581 ;
and I got my culture results back today, I was told I tested positive for type 2, I was too busy crying to ask my doctor for my igg levels but i am still in disbelief bc I have no real symptoms. I have no pain no tingling, no burning when I pee, no fever but I have two small cuts the size of a pen mark on my outer labia with no fluids and no pain. I contacted all the partners I have had in the past year and 1/2 (3 of the 4 men i have ever been with) and their responses were pretty much the same .....my bf said he hasn't had any symptoms and he has never had any but he will go get tested soon, my ex said he got tested for every std in June and was negative, my friend got tested last week after I told him about the possibility and his tests came back negative. they were all very sweet and loving and told me not to worry bc they care about me regardless but their reactions just leave me more confused. 2 Wednesdays ago on the day i think I contracted this **** I gave my bf oral and he gave me oral right before we had sex, we did this again 3 days later non of us have any oral outbreaks, on Sunday (5 days after going to the doc) in a moment of weakness my same friend listed above gave me oral sex (trust me I tried to stop him) and he has yet to have an oral out break or any other outbreaks at that. I too have been reading about the false positive stories and I really really hope I am one of those stories. so my question to you lifeinterupted is did you have a blood test or a culture and did your doc use ques diagnosis lab? and my question to grace is how long do you think I should wait to do a blood test?
and I got my culture results back today, I was told I tested positive for type 2, I was too busy crying to ask my doctor for my igg levels but i am still in disbelief bc I have no real symptoms. I have no pain no tingling, no burning when I pee, no fever but I have two small cuts the size of a pen mark on my outer labia with no fluids and no pain. I contacted all the partners I have had in the past year and 1/2 (3 of the 4 men i have ever been with) and their responses were pretty much the same .....my bf said he hasn't had any symptoms and he has never had any but he will go get tested soon, my ex said he got tested for every std in June and was negative, my friend got tested last week after I told him about the possibility and his tests came back negative. they were all very sweet and loving and told me not to worry bc they care about me regardless but their reactions just leave me more confused. 2 Wednesdays ago on the day i think I contracted this **** I gave my bf oral and he gave me oral right before we had sex, we did this again 3 days later non of us have any oral outbreaks, on Sunday (5 days after going to the doc) in a moment of weakness my same friend listed above gave me oral sex (trust me I tried to stop him) and he has yet to have an oral out break or any other outbreaks at that. I too have been reading about the false positive stories and I really really hope I am one of those stories. so my question to you lifeinterupted is did you have a blood test or a culture and did your doc use ques diagnosis lab? and my question to grace is how long do you think I should wait to do a blood test?
It was Quest lab and it was a blood test. I am going to have a western blot test soon. I have not had any symptoms to do a culture. I was really checking for HSV 1 test to prove I never get cold sores. So we did the whole panel and other STD tests during an annual exam/blood test. Well I did test negative for HSV 1.... but, SHOCKED by HSV 2 positive.
Grace, thank you for your reply. A WB test is beng mailed to me. I have HMO. How do I implement the test. My HMO primary normally sends me to Quest for blood tests. I am prepared to pay outside my insurance. What type of dr or lab would I contact?
Sorry Grace, one more question. If I became active with someone that has HSV 1 and I have HSV2 is there a higher or lower risk to transmit either to the other person. I am more concerned about me transmitting the HSV2.
don't hesitate to give your insurance a call about this. let them know that you have been made aware that from the 2010 cdc herpes guidelines, there are false positive issues with hsv2 igg results under 5 and since you've never had any symptoms, you need to confirm your status with the herpes WB since it will be impossible to get a lesion culture of symptoms to confirm. if they deny payment the first time, always be aggressive and challenge it. the documentation for the need for confirmatory testing has been out there for 10 years now. if your doctor isn't checking the right boxes when he bills you to cover it, ask the insurance which ones he should be!!
your provider can just order the test to be drawn by your local quest lab and sent to the U of washington. all the information for what to do with the tubes and where to send it is in the box for them.
if you truly do have hsv2 and a partner doesn't, your risk of transmitting to them is rather low in general. hsv1 infection doesn't provide any significant protection against contracting hsv2 later on.
your provider can just order the test to be drawn by your local quest lab and sent to the U of washington. all the information for what to do with the tubes and where to send it is in the box for them.
if you truly do have hsv2 and a partner doesn't, your risk of transmitting to them is rather low in general. hsv1 infection doesn't provide any significant protection against contracting hsv2 later on.
Grace, thanks again. I found out that Quest no longer does the blood draw in CA. We did find another lab, not connected with my HMO, so they charge $30. Thats OK.
you can't order the WB through quest but if you have the kit sent to you, your provider can order it to be drawn at your local lab and sent out. just a fyi if you don't really get a herpes WB done at this other lab.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
