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Could HSV-2 IgG of 3.89 be false postive?
I went in for a yearly check-up and decided to just have a full std panel done. I have never had any symptoms of anything and wasn't concerned at all for my results. The results came back postive for HSV type 2 specific IgG of 3.89 index and HSV I/II Combination of 6.74 ratio. I was shocked!! I have never had any symptoms or anything and definitely have never been with anyone that thought they did or had any symptoms either. I know that this is above the 3.5 range of possibly false postives, but i don't know what to do. Please any advie or help would be greatly appreciated!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, it certainly is possible to have HSV-2 and never have a symptomatic outbreak. Otherwise, there isn't much more to say until the confirmatory test is done. My fingers are crossed for you.
I will definitely get the WB test done as well and let you know when I get the results. From what you have said (I have slept with 5 guys - starting at 18 but am not currently in a relationship), I know that there is probably a miniscule chance that the blood test was incorrect, but I'm really hoping that it is. Assuming that the WB test comes back positive as well, is it possible to never have an outbreak? It is just so crazy to me, because whoever I got this from didn't know they had it (I dated 3 for about 1.5 years each and the other 2 for about 3 months). Also, I probably would have never gotten tested, but I just moved cities and switched to a different gynecologist who asked me if I would like to be tested. She also said that nothing looked abnormal at all down there. I mean, I could conceivably have just not asked for the extra blood work and continued on never having any clue (which I almost wish I had done), and that is a scary thought!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Across the US, among white women your age and "not many" sex partners (5-10 maybe?), around 15-20% have HSV-2. So not all that unusual. Conceivably your UTI or anal itching could have been herpetic, but probably not.
It would make sense for you to have a confirmatory test, preferably an HSV Western blot. WB is done only at the Univeristy of Washington clinical laboratories (Seattle), where the test was developed and much of the research on HSV blood tests has been done. Your doctor's office and/or the laboratory will know how to refer a blood specimen to them. But don't get your hopes up. Over 90% of people with HSV-2 resuls above 3.5 confirm as positive by WB.
In addition to WB, be on the alert for new genital or anal area symptoms. Research shows that when people learn of a positive HSV-2 blood test, 60% of those who had no recognized symptoms begin to notice minor symptoms like a genital sore or minor itch that turns out to be a recurrent herpes outbreak. If that happens, see a herpes-knowledgeable provider immediately (within a day) to be examined and have an HSV test from the affected area. That's the most definitive way to confirm the diagnosis. Finally, if you have a current sex partner, he (or she) should be tested for HSV.
In the meantime, keep a level head and don't panic. "Devastated" is a typical reaction in this situation. However, it is also typical that things come to be seen as far less devastating as infected people gain knowledge and understanding of their infections. Most people learn to live with the problem, with less impact than they initially fear on future love and relationships. Start by reading some of the available information, e.g. websites like CDC (www.cdc.gov/std), the American Social Health Assocation (www.ashastd.org), and the Westover Heights Clinic of Portland, OR (www.westoverheights.com). Excellent books on understanding and living with herpes are available at the latter two sources. (Full disclosure: Dr. Hook and I are on ASHA's board of directors and Terri Warren, moderator of MedHelp's herpes forum, owns and directs WHC. Finally, consider participating in MedHelp's herpes community forum, where the moderators are experienced herpes counselors.
If you go ahead with a confirmatory test, I'll be happy to comment when you get the result.
It would make sense for you to have a confirmatory test, preferably an HSV Western blot. WB is done only at the Univeristy of Washington clinical laboratories (Seattle), where the test was developed and much of the research on HSV blood tests has been done. Your doctor's office and/or the laboratory will know how to refer a blood specimen to them. But don't get your hopes up. Over 90% of people with HSV-2 resuls above 3.5 confirm as positive by WB.
In addition to WB, be on the alert for new genital or anal area symptoms. Research shows that when people learn of a positive HSV-2 blood test, 60% of those who had no recognized symptoms begin to notice minor symptoms like a genital sore or minor itch that turns out to be a recurrent herpes outbreak. If that happens, see a herpes-knowledgeable provider immediately (within a day) to be examined and have an HSV test from the affected area. That's the most definitive way to confirm the diagnosis. Finally, if you have a current sex partner, he (or she) should be tested for HSV.
In the meantime, keep a level head and don't panic. "Devastated" is a typical reaction in this situation. However, it is also typical that things come to be seen as far less devastating as infected people gain knowledge and understanding of their infections. Most people learn to live with the problem, with less impact than they initially fear on future love and relationships. Start by reading some of the available information, e.g. websites like CDC (www.cdc.gov/std), the American Social Health Assocation (www.ashastd.org), and the Westover Heights Clinic of Portland, OR (www.westoverheights.com). Excellent books on understanding and living with herpes are available at the latter two sources. (Full disclosure: Dr. Hook and I are on ASHA's board of directors and Terri Warren, moderator of MedHelp's herpes forum, owns and directs WHC. Finally, consider participating in MedHelp's herpes community forum, where the moderators are experienced herpes counselors.
If you go ahead with a confirmatory test, I'll be happy to comment when you get the result.
I am 25 and a white female. I have not had many sexual partners and certainly never with one that knew they had hsv-2. I have never been diagnosed with any other std's before either (however I don’t believe I have ever had a blood test done before this time). About a month and a half ago I had a UTI, but it quickly went away after my doctor prescribed me with Bactrim. I have never had any sores, bumps, burns or anything down in that area and never any weird discharge. The only possible things I can think of is that I have had some itching around my anus before (it felt like it was coming from the inside), but it went away in a couple of days. I have never had anal sex, but I do get hemorrhoids often (a doctor confirmed this). Also, my tailbone has felt mildly sore lately. I don’t even know if those things would relate to hsv-2 at all though. Thanks for your help! I am devastated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help.
That's a clearly positive result for HSV-2. As for being "shocked", this isn't a particularly unusual situation, as surprising as you find it. Among all US residents, 16% have had HSV-2, i.e. 1 in 6 people -- higher or lower depending on age, sex, race, and other factors. (If you'll let me know your gender, age, and race/ethnicity I'll give you a more precise estimate of how you compare.) Around 90% of those with positive tests have no previous diagnosis of genital herpes; some have symptoms that are mild or they previously didn't think much about, but many are truly without symptoms.
Having said all that, even at high ELISA values (over 3.5), a small proportion of positive results may be false. This depends a lot on your risks for herpes over the years. If you have had few lifetime sex partners, and certainly if only one or two, confirmation testing might be a good idea. On the other hand, if you are, say, in your 30s and have had times when you were dating quite a bit and have had several lifetime partners, the odds are strong that the result is accurate; and certainly so if any past partners were known to have HSV-2.
So let me know the personal information suggested and whether you have ever had any unexplained genital area symptoms that could have included sores/blisters, genital itching, discharge, etc; and any other STDs you've had in the past, and we'll take it from there.
Regards-- HHH, MD
That's a clearly positive result for HSV-2. As for being "shocked", this isn't a particularly unusual situation, as surprising as you find it. Among all US residents, 16% have had HSV-2, i.e. 1 in 6 people -- higher or lower depending on age, sex, race, and other factors. (If you'll let me know your gender, age, and race/ethnicity I'll give you a more precise estimate of how you compare.) Around 90% of those with positive tests have no previous diagnosis of genital herpes; some have symptoms that are mild or they previously didn't think much about, but many are truly without symptoms.
Having said all that, even at high ELISA values (over 3.5), a small proportion of positive results may be false. This depends a lot on your risks for herpes over the years. If you have had few lifetime sex partners, and certainly if only one or two, confirmation testing might be a good idea. On the other hand, if you are, say, in your 30s and have had times when you were dating quite a bit and have had several lifetime partners, the odds are strong that the result is accurate; and certainly so if any past partners were known to have HSV-2.
So let me know the personal information suggested and whether you have ever had any unexplained genital area symptoms that could have included sores/blisters, genital itching, discharge, etc; and any other STDs you've had in the past, and we'll take it from there.
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.
