Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Can results change from negative to incloncusove from the same blood sample test?

I had a full scale STD test performed after having both oral and vaginal intercourse with a woman that I was not too familiar.  
I called the clinic 3 days after submitting my blood and urine samples.  The clinic said I was all clear and there was nothing to worry about.  However, two weeks after receiving this news, and one week after receiving the paper results stating I was negative across the board, the nurse called me to tell me that I tested inconclusive and that I should come back to test in three months. I then received results only for HSV-1 and HSV-2 which had my levels at 1.03.  
I only submitted for one test though.
I'm very distraught over this new revelation and the roller coaster of emotion has been excruciating.  Please advise if this is a possible mistake or of blood cultures can still develop antibodies after being removed from the body.  
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
So yearly transmission rates from female to male  for hsv2  for couples who have sex two times a week and avoid sex during outbreaks is 4%
Helpful - 0
4 Comments
There is no documentation on hsv1 transmission rates. I would not worry about this roughly 60% of the population has it.
That is a very reassuring statistic because, really, it was just the one encounter that has me worried at all.  
Also the hsv1 igg test misses 30% of hsv1 infections
And 8% of hsv2
Avatar universal
Just because it could be a new infection doesn’t mean it is the chance of contracting herpes from a one time encounter are extremely low
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you for that response.  Perhaps I should further clarify my sexual history as well.  
I have been divorced over a year (I was with only this woman for 10 years) and have slept with four women since the divorce.  One was a 7 month relationship and she had been tested while we were together and was negative excepting HSV1 that she has had since she was much younger.  She never had an outbreak when we we were together and it didn't seem to be a problem.  We were last intimate over  6 weeks before I got tested.  
I got tested after having sex with the first woman I slept with after this relationship. It was this encounter prompeyed to get tested because of an itchy/very slight burning feeling on my penis that occurred within days of the encounter.
Avatar universal
First you need to find out if your test where specific for hsv1 and hsv2 find your value for each. When was your last sexual encounter? If less than 3 months this could be a new infection. If longer than 3 months your results are equivocal and should be considered negative.
Helpful - 0
8 Comments
I had the test performed within 7 days of the questionable sexual encounter.
The test tested for both HSV 1 and HSV2 but it had the same result in both.  The nurse stated there was no way to determine iif it was one or another at this point.
Interesting. At seven days the test for hsv1 and hsv2 are pointless. Was the sex unprotected?
Sometimes the igg blood test picks up proteins in your blood that resembles the hsv virus. This could be why your results show a equivocal value. I recommend that if you decide to test again you do so at 12 weeks. Is there any way you can check if the girl is hsv positive I would start there
Yes, the sex was unprotected.
It also sounds like this was not a type-specific IgG test. That is what you want. A combined test doesn’t tell you which strain has elevated levels.
Yes it doesn’t sound like it was specific if you test again make sure it is any value between 1.1-3.5 at 12 weeks is suspect and need a confirmation test like the western blot.
I'm still confused on how I got two results from one test/sample.  Is it protocol to hold off on sending a portion of the blood sample? Can antibodies further develop outside of the body?
That is confusing honestly I would pretend you didn’t even get the result because at 7 days they would tell you nothing about that exposure. If you want to test sooner you can do so at 6 weeks this would provide you with about 70% accurate
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
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.