Test results. Am I infected

[hopeful1962]

2 months ago, my doctor alerted me to a "positive" HSV-1 and 2 test (IgG).  The result was a .94 where <.91 was negative and 1.09 was positive. She said it was no big deal or urgent.   I have never had any outbreaks that I know of and have had unprotected sex with 3 longer term girlfriends over the past 4 years without any complaint or issue and oral sex with others unprotected.  I went back and had a follow up test a week ago which came back at 1.10 (.01 above the line for positive).  The IgG test did not breakdown into 1 or 2.  Based on what  Dr. Hansfield wrote about test results, I now feel that I am likely not positive but of course am not sure. Has the research indicating that the 1.1 is likely not sufficient/positive been updated or confirmed.  What other sources can I check?

And on the assumption I have herpes, can having relations with another infected person, make it worse than my current level, which appears to be nonexistent.

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You need to ask your doctor about specific IgG results to HSV-1 and to HSV-2 as seperate tests. There is no meaningful information in a combined test of the sort you had.  EWH

[hopeful1962]

I was tested because when I start dating somebody, I typically get an HIV test just to be safe. Instead of HIV alone, my doctor did an entire panel including HSV. I had an IgG type test.  The one in April or March was at .94 combined, the follow-up about a week ago was 1.10, where positive was 1.09.

I am almost hesitant to get more specific testing because I do not want to know.  Another physician on this site, said the actual positive value for the test if 3.5 but due to FDA regulations it was placed at 1.1.

Hope this gives you better information

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  The topic of herpes is a complex one.  The disease is common with HSV-1 being present in over 60% of adults and HSV-2 (the virus which causes most genital herpes) being present in about 1 in 5 Americans.  For both infections, the majority of people who have the infections are not aware that they are infected, either because they either acquired it without knowing in the past or because they misidentified their herpes as something else.  Many of questions and information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA).

To prepare to address your questions I have read your posts on other MedHelp Communities.  Before I can give you and accurate assessment of what might be going on, I need more information.  For starters, a combination blood test is typically misleading.  Type specific testing for HSV with a reliable test such as the HerpeSelect should provide separate results for IgG to HSV-1 and to HSV-2, not a ratio or combined value.  In addition, IgM tests are to be ignored as they are typically inaccurate and misleading.  I will point out that persons will low values such as yours often have false positive results or at least need confirmatory testing.

Other questions - why did you get tested?  

Please get more information about your test - what type, what are the values for HSV-2 and HSV-2.

Thanks  EWH