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2 test or not to test (that is the question)
Before the question, let me thank GracefromHHP and Dr HHH and others for their posts. You are helping alot of people. My question is this: is the DNA/PCR blood test helpful in determining infection with the HSV2 virus? I've read conflicting information on this. There is clinical information posted online about the efficacy of this type of test and various labs offer it. So, a little clarification would be awesome. Oh, btw, I am completely new to this posting thing, so I hope I post correctly. Thanks!
Best Answer
we don't use pcr on blood testing for herpes. herpes is not a blood borne virus so it's use for routine herpes testing isn't helpful at all.
why do they offer pcr blood testing? it can help helpful with research studies as well as with newborn infants newly infected. it's not helpful for routine herpes testing though.
grace
why do they offer pcr blood testing? it can help helpful with research studies as well as with newborn infants newly infected. it's not helpful for routine herpes testing though.
grace
thank you for the reply. I am bothered by the fact that there are websites that proclaim PCR/DNA serum tests as an accurate way to test.
What is the protocol/community standard for other questions about my symptoms and situation. Do I ask in this thread or do I start another one?
What is the protocol/community standard for other questions about my symptoms and situation. Do I ask in this thread or do I start another one?
Hi hope this isnt too long...
I had brief unprotected anal sex (as the top) on July 8th with another guy. I experienced some burning in my penis on the 8th day for two days. I went to drs office on 10th day post exposure. He examined visually and did a swab for gonorrhea and chlamydia and gave me rx for azithromycin and suprax so I would have it if results were positive as I was traveling across country. The burning stopped but the lymph glands in my jaw began to ache for the next couple of weeks, sometimes aching was quite pronounced (never swollen) and I had a headache (no fever). On the 21st day post-exposure my penis began to burn with a vengeance. Visual inspection: no bumps, sores, etc but did feel tender on underside of shaft and skin looked irritated. I put ice on it and called an std hotline to ask about herpes and was told intense burning (without sores) isn't usually Hsv2 especially three weeks later and advised that I take the rx the dr gave me (even though test results were negative). I did take the rx and within four hours the burning had stopped (psychological?). I experienced diarrhea (from meds?)for several hours. All was good for 3-4days and then my penis began to slightly burn/tingle and armpits began to intermittently burn and that lasted until August 15/38 days post-exposure when tingling stopped. How much of this scenario sounds like herpes????
I had brief unprotected anal sex (as the top) on July 8th with another guy. I experienced some burning in my penis on the 8th day for two days. I went to drs office on 10th day post exposure. He examined visually and did a swab for gonorrhea and chlamydia and gave me rx for azithromycin and suprax so I would have it if results were positive as I was traveling across country. The burning stopped but the lymph glands in my jaw began to ache for the next couple of weeks, sometimes aching was quite pronounced (never swollen) and I had a headache (no fever). On the 21st day post-exposure my penis began to burn with a vengeance. Visual inspection: no bumps, sores, etc but did feel tender on underside of shaft and skin looked irritated. I put ice on it and called an std hotline to ask about herpes and was told intense burning (without sores) isn't usually Hsv2 especially three weeks later and advised that I take the rx the dr gave me (even though test results were negative). I did take the rx and within four hours the burning had stopped (psychological?). I experienced diarrhea (from meds?)for several hours. All was good for 3-4days and then my penis began to slightly burn/tingle and armpits began to intermittently burn and that lasted until August 15/38 days post-exposure when tingling stopped. How much of this scenario sounds like herpes????
I haven't had gardasil shots because I am 46 yo male. I thought they were for younger females! Surely, I already have hpv at this point. I got my testing protocols all messed up. I had a syphilis test (rpr) at four weeks when it should've been six. I had the igg at six weeks when it should have been 12. I never considered hepatitis!!!! Yikes. Now, I am gonna look that up (i think I was vaccinated for hep a/b in the late 90s.... I assume that offered protection....
they are for males and females but unfortunately the cut off age is 28 at this point.
vaccines are never 100% protection so you still have to test for hepatitis just to err on the side of caution.
we recommend protected sexual contact for a reason - protects you, saves you from worrying so much as well as saves you from having to do testing as frequently. Protect yourself in the future :)
vaccines are never 100% protection so you still have to test for hepatitis just to err on the side of caution.
we recommend protected sexual contact for a reason - protects you, saves you from worrying so much as well as saves you from having to do testing as frequently. Protect yourself in the future :)
Oh dear, somehow I marked a comment as best answer when I didn't intend to. Can't seem to undo it...
I appreciate your advice to play safer and w/ condoms. I totally agree. Booze and sex can be a bad combo.... I have made a vow to never let this happen again. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY!
So, my follow up query is trying to figure out what made my penis burn in the first place. At days 8-10 it was noticeable but mild. On day 21 it was INTENSE (all before taking antibiotics). Have you ever known a herpes initial outbreak to be only intensely burning???? Btw, the lymph glands in my groin never made themselves known, only my jaw and underarms.... To me that is weird.
I will do igg test in 6 weeks and post results here.
I appreciate your advice to play safer and w/ condoms. I totally agree. Booze and sex can be a bad combo.... I have made a vow to never let this happen again. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY!
So, my follow up query is trying to figure out what made my penis burn in the first place. At days 8-10 it was noticeable but mild. On day 21 it was INTENSE (all before taking antibiotics). Have you ever known a herpes initial outbreak to be only intensely burning???? Btw, the lymph glands in my groin never made themselves known, only my jaw and underarms.... To me that is weird.
I will do igg test in 6 weeks and post results here.
not even I can undo the best answer....lol It's my understanding that picking a best answer just helps to bump your post up higher on the search function for others to find easier.
many things can cause burning as a symptom. viruses can also be the cause and they aren't detected on standard std testing and they just have to run their course. also if you were only tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia and didn't have any basic urine testing done or a bacterial culture, many infections would go unnoticed.
many things can cause burning as a symptom. viruses can also be the cause and they aren't detected on standard std testing and they just have to run their course. also if you were only tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia and didn't have any basic urine testing done or a bacterial culture, many infections would go unnoticed.
Well, the fact of the matter is that your posts are the best answers, especially since u r the only person responding!!!!! Lol.
I did have urine tests done no bacteria or anything unusual. My too early igg test was positive for hsv1 (no surprise to me -- in fact I had an ob on my lips this past weekend after time in the sun, first ob in over six years!). The hsv2 was negative, which doesnt really tell me anything. So, I am avoiding sexual contact of any sort with the guy I'm dating until six more weeks. He knows that I'm concerned about herpes2 and is being supportive (I'm so lucky that he is so cool).
Can I come back to this thread if I wait to post for a few weeks???
I did have urine tests done no bacteria or anything unusual. My too early igg test was positive for hsv1 (no surprise to me -- in fact I had an ob on my lips this past weekend after time in the sun, first ob in over six years!). The hsv2 was negative, which doesnt really tell me anything. So, I am avoiding sexual contact of any sort with the guy I'm dating until six more weeks. He knows that I'm concerned about herpes2 and is being supportive (I'm so lucky that he is so cool).
Can I come back to this thread if I wait to post for a few weeks???
I"m on vacation this week and doing a fine job of avoiding everything I needed to get done so I'm on more than usual :)
as long as the symptoms finally stay gone, I'd stop worrying about it. at this point you might never figure out what the culprit was. if you had caught a virus that was causing most of your symptoms, it's run its course about now - they usually do in about a month or so.
has your new guy had full std testing that included herpes testing too? the rates of hsv infection in general are very high in gay males so making sure partners are tested is always a good idea.
as long as the symptoms finally stay gone, I'd stop worrying about it. at this point you might never figure out what the culprit was. if you had caught a virus that was causing most of your symptoms, it's run its course about now - they usually do in about a month or so.
has your new guy had full std testing that included herpes testing too? the rates of hsv infection in general are very high in gay males so making sure partners are tested is always a good idea.
Oh Grace. I'm glad u r on vacation and posting! My bf hasn't been tested for hsv2. He did get tested for other infections. He does have hsv1 if his fever blisters are a clue. Unfortunately, in the gay world HIV is what most ppl get tested for! We need to get more comprehensive. I'll be honest, I never really gave much thought to herpes before now....
At this point I'm pretty darn sure I will test positive. My glands continue to ache in my neck and underarms and I've started getting back, buttock, thigh and leg pains (mostly sharp pains but one made standing a challenge!). I've refilled my Rx for acyclovir the doc gave for fever blisters for the inevitable prodrome and/or outbreak and not taking any right now because Ive heard it will delay the igg test from giving an accurate result.
I think I'm going to go on a crusade to get doctors to understand that herpes only rarely means blisters/lesions. I talked with my physician about it, he had no idea.....
At this point I'm pretty darn sure I will test positive. My glands continue to ache in my neck and underarms and I've started getting back, buttock, thigh and leg pains (mostly sharp pains but one made standing a challenge!). I've refilled my Rx for acyclovir the doc gave for fever blisters for the inevitable prodrome and/or outbreak and not taking any right now because Ive heard it will delay the igg test from giving an accurate result.
I think I'm going to go on a crusade to get doctors to understand that herpes only rarely means blisters/lesions. I talked with my physician about it, he had no idea.....
since hsv2 increases your risk for hiv, knowing herpes status is very important for gay males. educate your friends so they are as smart as you will be from spending time on this forum :)
yes, cold sores are usually hsv1. Since having hsv1 can make a hsv2 infection less noticeable, your partner will need to seek out the testing too. make sure it's at least 3 months after he last had sex with someone else too.
yes, cold sores are usually hsv1. Since having hsv1 can make a hsv2 infection less noticeable, your partner will need to seek out the testing too. make sure it's at least 3 months after he last had sex with someone else too.
Grace, do you know the risks of transmitting genital herpes via oral sex? In other words, if we are both hsv1 positive and i am hsv2 positive genitally, can I safely perform oral sex on him?
if you both have hsv1 orally, just err on the side of caution and don't perform oral when you have an obvious cold sore. otherwise not an issue.
That's good info. Thanks. Do you ever grow weary of having so many ppl asking u questions??? I hope not, cause here's another: I took acyclovir for five days because of a ob on my lips. I had my (all too early) six week igg test about 36 hours after starting that five day intermittent therapy. Do you think it had an impact on the 6 weeks results? Maybe that's a useless question. Will the five days of Rx impact the accuracy of a 12 week type specific igg test?
when I grow weary, I take a break and don't come to the forum :) I'm a firm believer that you need a place to ask these sorts of questions and get an educated response, not some of the awful gloom and doom responses you often see on some message boards. I believe in educating people, not scaring them needlessly :)
no, the round of acyclovir you took at that point wouldn't be an issue.
no, the round of acyclovir you took at that point wouldn't be an issue.
Oh dear. My anxiety is soaring today. I gave my bf oral sex yesterday morning. I had no fever blisters. Last night my bottom row of teeth began to ache and I discovered to bumps under my tongue that are in the soft area but on the edge that meets the gum. I've been putting benzocaine on them and just now had a horrible thought -- could they be herpes in my mouth?????? OMG. the pictures on the Internet of cankers vs herpes offer me no way to distinguish. What have I done? What might I now do???
I went to a walk in drs office and had the dr look at the bumps. She said she doesn't know what they are but that they aren't canker sores. She took a swab but didn't know how to order a PCR DNA and wasn't sure what the test is. Only that it is a viral culture. They will contact me with results in three days. I've had hsv1 for years so if this is hsv, why wouldn't it be on my lips? I thought lesions in the mouth are for primary outbreaks.....
Hi Grace. Hope you had a great weekend. I have to say that I've learned new and innovative ways to look into my mouth the past 48 hours. I can/could feel two bumps with my tongue and saw them too but they don't look anything like a canker or herpes sore. So, my regular dentist saw me this morning and took a good, close, and long look at my mouth. He didn't see much to begin with and had to ask me to physically point the problem areas. When I did, he examined them and felt them and his opinion is that these are inflamed/swollen lymph glands. He said so because of the bilateral/symetrical presentation and because he could still feel them and move them. He does not believe this to be herpes or canker sores. He has no idea as to the direct cause. This gave me a huge sense of relief....
great - now stop looking at any body part in mirrors and checking out anything and go back to living your life!!!
Hey Grace! How do I find a clinic or facility that offers the PCR testing of affected skin? Most places seem to utilize the viral culture method, which is supposedly unlikely to deliver an accurate result. I'd like to be prepared to go somewhere with the most up-to-date testing methods should I have an ob. Any suggestions? A google search hasn't been particularly helpful.
Believe you me, I'm trying to not be hyperfocused and/or unduly anxious. At this point in the process, I am quite ready to be done w/ it all. I have a wonderfully romantic supper planned w/ my man tonight..... If only my body would cooperate. This morning, in the wee hours of the morning, I awoke to pain in my penis. It has been here most of the day. I'm wondering if this is a prodrome. If so, I want to be ready at the first sign of bumps/lesions inflammation to get to the clinic for a viral culture swab. The last time this happened was aproximately 30 days ago and then it hurt like hell. I'm not there just yet. I don't know if you'll see this and have time to respond, but if I do see something and go to the clinic, any advice on what to ask for?????
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
since you had unprotected sex, you can test for syphilis anytime after 6 weeks post encounter and herpes, hiv and hepatitis after 3 months to properly cover your bases.
have you had your gardasil shots for hpv yet?