Aa
Low Index value opinion
Dear HHH,
I know this question is similar to some others but I appreciate you looking at it.
OK here is my situation...I am 19 and have only had sex twice (unprotected both times..stupid i know)...I wanted to move on from these events and decided to get tested despite the abscence of symptoms just for peace of mind...I got tested 5 monthes after 1st contact and 73 days after the second contact (different girls)...I did type Herselect specific Elisa but HSV-2 only (I know i have had HSV-1 because i used to get the sores on my lips)
to my surprise my first one came back HSV-2 2.75
retested two weeks later HSV-2 2.2
my doctor seemed to think that this meant i was positive although from what i can find on the internet this seems like i just have low antibody levels suggesting a false positive, which my lack of symptoms seem to suggest.
what do you think/reccomend...also how do i find a place that uses biokit to test as i can't seem to find any labs that use it?...although I am almost tempted not to retest due to emotional trauma
also although no studies have been done specifically on it do you think that allergy testing could change my G-levels as i had that done the day before the first test and apparently G-glyoproteins are produced in response to allergys.
last thing...has there been any studies done on the effect of the chicken pox vaccine (as i am in the first generation vaccinated) and its effect on G-levels i saw that because i read an article of a somewhat similar vaccine doing just that
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TD4-4BHT4KC-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f6f1c357f6059cfdb7881555873207ba
I know this question is similar to some others but I appreciate you looking at it.
OK here is my situation...I am 19 and have only had sex twice (unprotected both times..stupid i know)...I wanted to move on from these events and decided to get tested despite the abscence of symptoms just for peace of mind...I got tested 5 monthes after 1st contact and 73 days after the second contact (different girls)...I did type Herselect specific Elisa but HSV-2 only (I know i have had HSV-1 because i used to get the sores on my lips)
to my surprise my first one came back HSV-2 2.75
retested two weeks later HSV-2 2.2
my doctor seemed to think that this meant i was positive although from what i can find on the internet this seems like i just have low antibody levels suggesting a false positive, which my lack of symptoms seem to suggest.
what do you think/reccomend...also how do i find a place that uses biokit to test as i can't seem to find any labs that use it?...although I am almost tempted not to retest due to emotional trauma
also although no studies have been done specifically on it do you think that allergy testing could change my G-levels as i had that done the day before the first test and apparently G-glyoproteins are produced in response to allergys.
last thing...has there been any studies done on the effect of the chicken pox vaccine (as i am in the first generation vaccinated) and its effect on G-levels i saw that because i read an article of a somewhat similar vaccine doing just that
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TD4-4BHT4KC-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f6f1c357f6059cfdb7881555873207ba
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Allergy testing and diagnosis has no effect on HSV antibody tests, IgG or not.
No more comments on this thread, please.
No more comments on this thread, please.
I know this is a late response but i just retested using a type specific Igg and everything came back negative in your opinion is this sufficient to say i dont have anything
I am guessing (although it is just a guess)the allergy testing may have messed things up a little initially because apparently to test for allergys they test to see if you have elevated igg levels after you come into contact with things that you are allergic to (which i was injected with)
I am guessing (although it is just a guess)the allergy testing may have messed things up a little initially because apparently to test for allergys they test to see if you have elevated igg levels after you come into contact with things that you are allergic to (which i was injected with)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Nobody practices "virology" as a speciality. In any case, I can't lead you by the hand. I suggest you just discuss all this with your own primary care provider and either let him or her handle the issue or refer you to an appropriate specialist. You could print out this thread so that your PCP understands my perspective on the issues. Otherwise, I cannot help further.
ok sorry this health provider stuff is kinda new to me so if i ask them to purchase it for me, do i tell them to send it to a lab or something, but then don't i need a doctor's order to use it to get tested?....i am thinking i am going to schedule an appt with a virologist and ask him to order it...would that work?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That's a very complex question. The quick answer is that both Biokit and HerpeSelect directly measure antibody to HSV proteins called gG-1 and gG-2 (for HSV-1 and -2, respectively), but use somewhat different chemical methods to detect the antibody. WB looks for antibody to gG-1 and gG-2 simultaneously, but also to a large range of other HSV antibodies at the same time.
By the way, this gG terminology (for "glycoprotein G") is entirely different from IgG (for "immunoglobulin G"). It's easy to get confused, since all three of these tests mesure IgG antibody.
By the way, this gG terminology (for "glycoprotein G") is entirely different from IgG (for "immunoglobulin G"). It's easy to get confused, since all three of these tests mesure IgG antibody.
Thank you that was very helpful, if you could answer one more quick question....how is the western blot and biokit testing different than the elisa testing method...as in, what does biokit and the western blot due differently to detect HSV-2 than the elisa
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Indeed, most people with the test results you describe are infected with HSV-2. However, that result conflicts strongly with your sexual history, which suggests a very low risk.
Put aside your fear of further "emotional trauma" from further testing. Confirming you are infected will be no more upsetting than what you already have experienced, and I think there's a good bet it would show you don't have it. I suggest two additional testing steps. You should do both of them.
First, ask your provider to do the HSV-1 blood test. In fact, it might have been done already. Some laboratories automatically test for HSV-1 as well as HSV-2, but only report the HSV-2 result if that is all the provider requested. If your blood is positive for HSV-1 antibody, that increases the chance your HSV-2 result is falsely positive.
Second, have another HSV blood test using a different test method. In addition to BiokitUSA, some labs use the Captia brand HSV test, produced by a company called Trinity Biotech. If this second test is also positive for HSV-2, almost certainly you have it. If negative, you probably don't. (I believe BiokitUSA's website has information that your provider can use to purchase a test kit. Otherwise I have no suggestions about finding a provider who does it, except to ask your own doc to help find someone.)
Alternatively, the quickest resolution -- but also the most expensive (up to $150 or more, which insurance might not cover) -- would be to ask your doc to request confirmatory testing by the HSV Western blot test, which is done at the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle. WB is the gold standard for resolving situations like yours. Your doctor's routine clinical lab will know how to send a specimen to UW.
I doubt allergy testing could affect any of this, although I doubt anybody has done research on that particular question. The varicella (chickenpox) vaccine doesn't influence HSV blood test results.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Put aside your fear of further "emotional trauma" from further testing. Confirming you are infected will be no more upsetting than what you already have experienced, and I think there's a good bet it would show you don't have it. I suggest two additional testing steps. You should do both of them.
First, ask your provider to do the HSV-1 blood test. In fact, it might have been done already. Some laboratories automatically test for HSV-1 as well as HSV-2, but only report the HSV-2 result if that is all the provider requested. If your blood is positive for HSV-1 antibody, that increases the chance your HSV-2 result is falsely positive.
Second, have another HSV blood test using a different test method. In addition to BiokitUSA, some labs use the Captia brand HSV test, produced by a company called Trinity Biotech. If this second test is also positive for HSV-2, almost certainly you have it. If negative, you probably don't. (I believe BiokitUSA's website has information that your provider can use to purchase a test kit. Otherwise I have no suggestions about finding a provider who does it, except to ask your own doc to help find someone.)
Alternatively, the quickest resolution -- but also the most expensive (up to $150 or more, which insurance might not cover) -- would be to ask your doc to request confirmatory testing by the HSV Western blot test, which is done at the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle. WB is the gold standard for resolving situations like yours. Your doctor's routine clinical lab will know how to send a specimen to UW.
I doubt allergy testing could affect any of this, although I doubt anybody has done research on that particular question. The varicella (chickenpox) vaccine doesn't influence HSV blood test results.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- 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.
