accuracy...

[ebro]

exposure: potential genital appostion, perhaps partially clothed, tho im unsure...could have been some contact between my penis and vagina, but def. no penetration

symptoms: 2-3 weeks later, 2 small, white raised lesions right next to each other  under foreskin, dont think they were blisters, but not sure... papules perhaps? surrounding skin didnt look red... i manipulated them and they appeared to burst, leaving sore area which healed in about 5-7 days...
some pain, but not bad...
tests: biokit hsv-2 rapid test, 9 weeks post exposure, negative...

According to "Ability of a Rapid Serology Test To Detect Seroconversion to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Glycoprotein G Soon after Infection", "the POCkit-HSV-2 test detects seroconversion within 4 weeks of presentation of 80% of patients with HSV-2 episodes"...

im quite a hypchondriac, but these symptoms were def. not in my head... given my exposure, symptoms, and test result, can i put this to rest? is there a realistic chance i have herpes or can i (please) just forget it?

[ebro]

thank you- ... i always enjoyed your numerical estimates- are we talking lightning strike range?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I wouldn't have had any tests at all, if I were in your shoes.  As to whether you drop it or not, however, is up to you.  I cannot go any farther than "All things considered, there is almost no realistic chance you acquired herpes during the sexual encounter you describe"  I don't lead people by the hand.  

[ebro]

thank you for your response... so i can drop it? woud you be retested if you were in my shoes?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As a rough approximation, probably 80% of people with new HSV-2 infections have positive antibody tests at 9 weeks, using the most common method in American labs, the Focus HerpeSelect brand test.  It's probably 90% with the BiokitUSA test, which tends to become positive sooner.

That doesn't mean you have a 10-20% chance of being infected if a 9 week test is negative.  The overall assessment depends on the nature of the exposure (very low risk, in your case), symptoms (lack of symptoms doesn't prove you weren't infected, but makes it less likely), and test performance.  All things considered, there is almost no realistic chance you acquired herpes during the sexual encounter you describe.

[ebro]

sorry for the confusion about being clothed/not clothed- i was very drunk... if i indeed did contract hsv-2 and was sympotomatic, what is the lieklyhood that my 9 week test would be accurate?
thank you so very much

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The risk of herpes or any other STD from the exposure you describe is low to nil.  (But you "don't know" whether or not there was clothing between you and your partner??  Sorry, that's just not believable.)  In any case, your symptoms don't sound like herpes.  Combining that with the negative test result, there is no realistic chance you have genital herpes.

HHH, MD