equivocal with two different conclusions!?

[Hainan]

Hello,

my girlfriend had sex with another guy about 3 months ago.

She got tested after 6 weeks with the results:
Herpes Type 1: igg 0.6 negative
Herpes Type 2: igg 1.02 equivocal

She got tested 12 weeks after that with these test result:
Herpes Type 1: igg 0.3 negative
Herpes Type 2: igg 1.09 equivocal

The guy she last got sex with got tested at least 10 weeks after possible exposure with another girl. His result were:
Herpes type 1: positive (since childhood)
Herpes Type 2: negative (igg value below 0.5)

We saw two doctors one said it is most likely positive the other said it is most likely negative (for type 2)!!!?!
We are living in a big and devloped city and the doctors have a good reputation, but what is the 100% answer to this now?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The difference between these numbers is not at all meaningful.  I believe that u r negative and your girlfriend is likely negative as well but it would be nice if you could get her a confirmatory test.  But if both you and the other guys r negative, the she is likely not infected.

Terri

[Hainan]

I got tested a couple of times for Herpes type 2, but am not sure how to interpret these results, especially the last:

4 weeks before(!) exposure: igg 0.11
4 weeks post exposure: igg 0.12
6 weeks post exposure: igg 0.12
10 weeks post exposure: igg 0.11
12.5 weeks post exposure: 0.19

The first four tests were all of very similar values of 0.11-0.12, but the last is with 0.19 higher. It was a so stable low value until the last test and now it seems to rise. Does this mean that I am infected and my body just started producing antibodies? Do I need to retest again? I never had the typical herpes symtpoms.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The small shift in numbers is completely normal and expected.  Yes, if you are the same after 6 weeks, there is a 70% chance you will stay that way

TErri

[Hainan]

Hi again,

by the way I got tested 4 weeks before I meet her and had sex with her and 4 weeks after (we just had sex once). My value for type 2 was first 0.11 and then 0.12. So clearly negative, but does this small increase of 0.01 means something good or bad or nothing? If I do the test maybe 6 weeks after possible exposure and the value would still be about 0.12, would that be a hint that I do not have it?

Thx

[Hainan]

Hello,

I have been tested 4 weeks after we had sex and these result were clearly negative, but I think I still need to wait longer to make clear!? Last time I had sex with another girl is more than 3 month ago. So only my girlfriend could have infected me.
We are not living in Northamerica, so it is probably not that easy to do this test. Are there any other ways to get a better conclusion? In how many hours does the blood needs to be at the University?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Have you been tested?  If not, you probably should be because we need to know for certain that you are not infected with HSV 2 to sort this out properly.

If the person she had sex with is not infected, then unless you are infected, there is no need to wait longer for more accurate tests.  

There is just no way to know for certain if she is infected or not, given these results.  She needs a confirmatory test.  My GUESS is that she is negative, but she needs a western blot to be certain.  She can order a test kit to be sent to her from the University of Washington (google herpes western blot and UW) and she can have her doctor draw it and send it back to them.  

I wish there was an easier way to know for certain, but anything else is just guessing.

Terri