Hsv result and testing

[Hockeymonkey]

Hello over 18 weeks Ago I received oral sex from an hsv 1 and 2 infected (confirmed by igg test) person and have been stressing ever since. I have been negative before and negative at the 2 week mark. At 13 or so weeks I had 2 separate red bumps which ring of dry skin around them on my shaft. They never hurt or blistered and went away in like 7 days. Upon noticing them I went to the std clinic and they didn't think that it looked like herpes and couldn't swab. At that time I took an igg test and tested positive for type 1 at 1.4 and negative for type 2. Concerned about the results I went to my own doc and tested again 4 days later and the results came back negative for both!

So now I don't know what's going on. I have not had any other symptoms and didn't have any primary outbreaks. Now my question is what to make of this? Should I seek a wb? I really am scared to test and want to get an opinion. Why have two different answers? False positive or negative? Do people experience different answers like this a few days apart?

[Hockeymonkey]

Hey doc,

so i am sorry but this suspense is killing me and i really didn't take your last bit of advice as i wanted full closure on my situation.
to recap at 13 weeks hsv-1 (positive low 1.4) negative for 2. then negative on both tests 3 days later, including negative rapid test for hsv-2 at 13 weeks. after 16 weeks took the western blot an now im negative for 1 and indeterminate for 2. please let me know what you think about this now? should i retest? now what?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

My confidence is based both on your lack of symptoms and your low positive result, not either opne alone.  

A Western Blot would likely be indeterminant.  I see no need for such a test.  EWH

[Hockeymonkey]

Hi Dr. Hook. Thank you for the response. I am hoping that you are right. :) would u take a westernblot to confirm any of this ?? Personally my only fear is putting others at risk.

Regarding your statements u seem pretty confident that I am negative. Is it because of the low positive test result or lack of symptoms?

Thank u again and I appreciate ur help

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I have a simple and rather straight forward answer.  Your do not have HSV-1 or HSV-2 and have been worrying needlessly.  Your experience is a great example of why we do not recommend blood tests for HSV in situations such as yours- the currently available blood tests are not good enough for the purpose you are using them for.  
It is typical for the blood test values to bounce around and with these tests so-called "low positive" tests are often falsely positive reflecting cross reaction of something in your blood with the test, not true infection.

This was not your only exposure to testing  HSV infections.  Presuming you have kissed persons other than the person you mentioned over the course of your life, it is almost certain that you have been exposed to persons with HSV-1 since over 60% of American adults have it.  You just knew it in this case which is good for your partner to have told you and a big over reaction for you.

You need to accept that you did not get herpes from the contact you mentioned, that your "bumps" were something other than HSV, and stop testing this way- it’s a waste of your time and money.  EWH