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HSV 2 results interpretation_advice
Hello-
Approx 16 weeks ago, I developed burning with urination that lasted approx 1 day. When I looked, I noticed I had a small raw area barely visible just inside the vaginal opening (near where my epesiotomy was performed 6 years ago). This area was sore only when touched for approx 1 week and ultimately healed. I have had no other symptoms since that time. The symptoms began about 24 hrs after unprotected sex with my boyfriend at the time. Prior to this incident, I had not experienced any other symptoms. At the 12 week mark, I had HSV 2 testing performed when I went for my annual PAP and the results were negative for HSV 1 igg, positive for HSV2 igg at 2.20 (Herpeselect). My GYN basically said I have herpes and I had been infected for a long time, actually made a joke about it and that was that. I started doing research because I had not had any other symptoms and wanted to be sure of the results. I learned about the possibility of false + with index scores less than 3.5. So, I repeated testing at 16 weeks and just recvd the results which showed HSV 2 igg 1.83. I am now confused as to what the results mean and whether any further testing is advised. If so, my GYN will likely not be willing to order the test and I will need guidance on where and how to have it performed. My 2nd test was performed through healthcheckusa.com. Thank you.
Approx 16 weeks ago, I developed burning with urination that lasted approx 1 day. When I looked, I noticed I had a small raw area barely visible just inside the vaginal opening (near where my epesiotomy was performed 6 years ago). This area was sore only when touched for approx 1 week and ultimately healed. I have had no other symptoms since that time. The symptoms began about 24 hrs after unprotected sex with my boyfriend at the time. Prior to this incident, I had not experienced any other symptoms. At the 12 week mark, I had HSV 2 testing performed when I went for my annual PAP and the results were negative for HSV 1 igg, positive for HSV2 igg at 2.20 (Herpeselect). My GYN basically said I have herpes and I had been infected for a long time, actually made a joke about it and that was that. I started doing research because I had not had any other symptoms and wanted to be sure of the results. I learned about the possibility of false + with index scores less than 3.5. So, I repeated testing at 16 weeks and just recvd the results which showed HSV 2 igg 1.83. I am now confused as to what the results mean and whether any further testing is advised. If so, my GYN will likely not be willing to order the test and I will need guidance on where and how to have it performed. My 2nd test was performed through healthcheckusa.com. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This information slightly lowers my guesstimate about the chance you have HSV-2, but not by much; 40-50% likelihood still seems a good bet.
If you're still in contact with your past partners, you could suggest they be tested. If both are negative for HSV-2, it would pretty much prove you aren't infected. But even then, it is conceivable that your first test (~7/10) was falsely negative. So you probably can't get around the need for a confirmatory test at this time.
If you're still in contact with your past partners, you could suggest they be tested. If both are negative for HSV-2, it would pretty much prove you aren't infected. But even then, it is conceivable that your first test (~7/10) was falsely negative. So you probably can't get around the need for a confirmatory test at this time.
Thank you so much for the information. I suspected that would be the recommendation, and I will proceed with the confirmation testing. I should have noted previously that I did have the herpeselect test performed approx 7/2010 and while I never saw the results, I was told over the phone it was negative (this was part of an annual exam/STD screen--not for any issues). Since that time I have had sex with 2 people; 1 time 2/2011 (person A), and then with the boyfriend (person B) I mentioned in my first post who I dated from 3/2011-5/2011). While I tend to doubt I would have contracted herpes from the 1 encounter 2/2011, I know it is certainly possible.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
Thank you for reviewing other discussions on the forum or otherwise researching your question. You have done your homework well!
With two HerpeSelect HSV-2 results of 1.83 and 2.20, I would put the odds you actually are infected with HSV-2 in the 50% range. (By the way, there is no difference between 1.83 and 2.20; even the very same specimen, tested several times, would normally give somewhat variable numbers on the result.)
The way to sort this out is to have a confirmatory test. You can do this one of two ways. The simplest, cheapest, and perhaps quickest way is to have a BiokitUSA test, which is readily available and is commonly done in some doctors' offices and clinics; it's a 20 minute test done in the office. Most people with truly positive IgG results by HerpeSelect also have positive results with Biokit, and a negative result would indicate your IgG results are false positive. However, the "gold standard" test is the HSV Western blot test, which is done at the University of Washington labs in Seattle (where much of the research on HSV blood tests was done). Any commercial lab will know how to forward a specimen to UW for WB testing; you could also look for it on line. The WB result will tell once and for all whether you have HSV-2, HSV-1, both, or neither infection.
Should your HSV-2 positive result be confirmed, I would agree with your doctor that it is likely you have been infected for a long time, i.e. that you didn't acquire the infection at the time of your symptoms 16 weeks ago. If those symptoms were due to herpes, most likely it was a recurrent outbreak, not the initial infection. If such symptoms with a "raw area" reappear, you should see your gyn or other clinic ASAP, preferably within a day, for direct testing for HSV by a culture or PCR test.
I hope this helps. Let me know if I missed anything -- and feel free to return to let me know the result if and when you have been tested by WB or Biokit.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you for reviewing other discussions on the forum or otherwise researching your question. You have done your homework well!
With two HerpeSelect HSV-2 results of 1.83 and 2.20, I would put the odds you actually are infected with HSV-2 in the 50% range. (By the way, there is no difference between 1.83 and 2.20; even the very same specimen, tested several times, would normally give somewhat variable numbers on the result.)
The way to sort this out is to have a confirmatory test. You can do this one of two ways. The simplest, cheapest, and perhaps quickest way is to have a BiokitUSA test, which is readily available and is commonly done in some doctors' offices and clinics; it's a 20 minute test done in the office. Most people with truly positive IgG results by HerpeSelect also have positive results with Biokit, and a negative result would indicate your IgG results are false positive. However, the "gold standard" test is the HSV Western blot test, which is done at the University of Washington labs in Seattle (where much of the research on HSV blood tests was done). Any commercial lab will know how to forward a specimen to UW for WB testing; you could also look for it on line. The WB result will tell once and for all whether you have HSV-2, HSV-1, both, or neither infection.
Should your HSV-2 positive result be confirmed, I would agree with your doctor that it is likely you have been infected for a long time, i.e. that you didn't acquire the infection at the time of your symptoms 16 weeks ago. If those symptoms were due to herpes, most likely it was a recurrent outbreak, not the initial infection. If such symptoms with a "raw area" reappear, you should see your gyn or other clinic ASAP, preferably within a day, for direct testing for HSV by a culture or PCR test.
I hope this helps. Let me know if I missed anything -- and feel free to return to let me know the result if and when you have been tested by WB or Biokit.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
