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Can my herpes test be wrong?

Last summer I got diagnosed with hsv1 in the genital area. I keep thinking the diagnosis was wrong with the way everything happened. I have sensitive skin and it gets irritated very easily. I tried a different soap,used my old dirty razor,had protected sex. I always get an infection from condoms,always get an infection when I change my soap. So all of that together I feel like my skin just freaked out,I got a yeast infection took meds and I wasn't sure if it was fully gone but I had protected sex again and the irrattion came back. So I actually scratched a lot so I got random bumps all over. By time I went to the doctor that same day they were all gone but one bump. I have 3 negative blood work. One culture that was positive. One negative but I was a little late on getting the second one done. A 3rd swab of inside of my vaginal area way later on.. negative. I feel like I just want to be in denial but I want to get more test done. Just because of the way and when it happened. Im working in a hospital and I asked a doctor about cultures,didn't say for what but he was telling me about false negatives and positive. So I feel there could be a chance. Is there a chance it could of been wrong? I'm more okay with the situation now haven't had an outbreak since but just the way it happened is stuck in my head. The doctor saw and didn't want to give me any other option of what it could of been. Which I know they're other things that can be confused as herpes.I really need an opinion.
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207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
You don't mention the timing of the blood testing, which can affect a lot. Also, the igG blood tests can miss about 30% of hsv1 infections.

If you had a positive culture, then you probably have it. Cultures are known for false negatives, because of timing issues (like you mentioned). They aren't known for false positives.

If you get more symptoms, ask for a PCR culture. Those are more sensitive than a regular culture.

HOWEVER, ghsv1 is not that big of a deal, in the overall scheme of it. Ghsv1 doesn't often recur, it rarely sheds, and therefore, rarely transmits.

HSV 2 genital 15-30% of days evaluated

HSV 1 genital 3-5% of days evaluated
  
HSV 1 oral 25% of days evaluated

HSV 2 oral 1% of days evaluated

(https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/ - you should read this, as it has info about the testing and transmission. Much won't apply to you, so you can skip around, since hsv2 isn't relevant, but you might find it interesting.)

Also, many people already have hsv1 (about half the adult population, and it goes up to about 80% the older you get), so if they already have it, you can't give it to them again.

I hope this helps.

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8 Comments
Oh those % rates I gave are shedding rates.
Thank you it did. If I start taking valtrex 500mg daily. Would it help bring my transmission rate to almost nothing?
Yes, it would reduce the rate. Ghsv1 hasn't been studied like ghsv2 has, but it is assumed that valtrex would help the same way. Remember that those aren't transmission rates, but shedding rates.

For hsv2, transmission rates for women to men (we don't have transmission rates if your partners are women, but it's assumed it's lower than men):

if all you do is avoid sex during an outbreak - 8-10% a year
if you use condoms OR daily meds - 4-5% a year
if you use condoms AND daily meds - 2-3% a year

This assumes a monogamous relationship, with sex 2-3x a week.

We know that ghsv2 sheds 15-30% of days evaluated a year. Ghsv1 sheds 3-5%. This math is way above my head, but if you extrapolate all that, the chances of you transmitting ghsv1 already are statistically very, very, very low, even without meds.

If it makes you feel better to take the Valtrex, then take it, but you probably don't need it. :)
Will the valtrex help with the shedding ?
Okay! Thank you
=)
Just in case it isn't clear - yes, Valtrex helps reduce the shedding rates, but again, with ghsv1, you probably don't need it. Just avoid sex during an outbreak (if you get them), and you should be fine.

If it makes you feel better to take it - and a lot of people like the additional peace of mind - then go for it, but medically, it's probably not necessary.
Thank you!
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