Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Conflicting results. High pos ELISA, neg Biokit

My story is long but I'll to keep it short!
I started testing for herpes early 2015.

2/16/15 HSV1: equivocal HSV 2: neg
7/2015 HSV1: pos HSV2: neg

Partner (unknown status) from 8/2015-11/2015 (5 times protected, 3 times unprotected)

No symptoms of HSV then tested 7 months later 6/22/16 HSV 1: pos HSV2: neg

I had started sleeping with a new partner on 5/26/16 (3.5 weeks prior to the neg HSV2 IGG)

On 7/15 I had blisters on left buttocks (muscle twitches and night sweats)... urgent care doc did a swab that came back positive for herpes but it was not typed!
Originally my doctor had told me it was shingles and that I should just wear condoms and come back for another IGG test. So I continued to sleep with that partner with protection. It wasn't until I seeked out help fRom Terri Warren and she told me to ask for my test results which stated positive for herpes on the culture! I was shocked!

Returned for another IGG test 8/24/16 that was equivocal!

Meanwhile have been having occasional leg tingling and red scattered pimple like bumps on my buttocks (nowhere near the original blisters) and my doc says it's not herpes lesions. I had her test discharge and examine my cervix. She saw no sores anywhere and once the culture came back positive for BV and negative for HSV.

Still having protected sex with partner. He did not want to get tested because he felt we both didn't have it! So I recently decide to retest and I paid to get results that would give me an index value...on 12/7/16 my results HSV1: 1.13 and HSV2: 4.28.

I freaked out because 4.28 is out of the low positive range but I went and got the Biokit test anyway and 12/8/16 the result was negative. That doc told me that if I had an outbreak in July the Biokit would have been positive by now. He told me to believe I have gentian HSV1. Now I'm confused!

I still don't have my partners HSV blood work results and we have used condoms 100% of the time for vaginal penetration.

What are your thoughts about my scenario? Is it more likely that I have genital HSV1 or  genital HSV2?

What Do you think is the likelihood is that my 6/22/16 IGG test could have been a false negative (7 months after my previous pattern)

Is it harder for a woman to catch HSV while using condoms? This is why my current partner doesn't want to believe that either of us have it because we have always used them!

Any input would be helpful! Thanks!
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
15695260 tn?1549593113
Hi.  We've closed our expert forums and hope you feel relieved from the answer you've gotten here.  Best of luck to you.  
Helpful - 0
15249123 tn?1478652475
I would get a western blot as I'm never one to accept a positive results that's close, especially when you had a negative biokit.
The chances are good you indeed have hsv2 but you will feel better getting a western blot.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
okay thanks for the advice!! I appreciate your help and prompts responses! Happy Holidays!
Also I wanted to ask, how do I post a question in the expert forum? Like to get answers from Dr. HHH or the other medical professionals?
15249123 tn?1478652475
Hsv2 igg of 4.28 is firmly in the positive range so I would think your assessment of it 90% accurate is spot on.
The low hsv1 can be three things and it can get confusing why. It could be a low false positive. It could be a recent infection or it could be a long standing infection. Here is where the water gets muddy.
Hsv1 igg blood tests are not the greatest. It can miss up to 30% of infections. Sometimes it has a hard time seeing the antibodies from a long standing infection or there are few antibodies from a recent infection.  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Okay thanks!
Got my results back
12/8/15 HSV1 1.13 and HSV 2 4.28
12/15/16 HSV 1 0.93 and HSV 2 3.65

So even though it's close to 3.5 do you think I should retest with WB? Or IGG again? Or just accept this as my diagnosis?

Im in shock all over again! I'm so sad! Thanks for any input again!!!
Avatar universal
Hi there, just hoping you can help me out with my last follow up questions.  Thanks so much!!! You are much appreciated!
Helpful - 0
15249123 tn?1478652475
You are welcome. I'm not a medical professional. Just a guy that had a scare and made it a point to do my own research. That went way overboard.lol I ended up corresponding with many of the top experts and even got quite the education from the techs at the University of Washington. Where the western blot is performed. The key is weeding out general misinformation or symptoms taken out of context. Life360Dave on this and the std forum was a guy who helped me out greatly. A wealth of good information and knowledge.
I was so impressed that someone who isn't being paid would dedicate his time and knowledge to helping folks like me that I decided to learn as much as I could and pay it forward. So after a while medhelp asked me to be a community leader and here I am. Lol
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
That is so awesome! Thank from the bottom of my heart for what you do.  You are such a blessing to myself and others! I do have a few more questions that hopefully you can answer.
1. If I've had HSV1 for quite some time any idea why my index value would be 1.13? That barely out of the equivocal range but I think I may have cold sores in my nose in the past although past cultures have been negative.
2. Is it true that with a 4.28 it is >90% chance that I have HSV2?
3. If my buttocks OB in July was HSV2 wouldn't I have had more similar OBs? With actual blisters? Or can the pimples I've been getting be HSV2?

Again thank you so much! I just feel so lost and confused! I'm gonna take another IGG test hopefully this week!
15249123 tn?1478652475
I would take it whenever it's convenient. Anything 3.5 and under is suspect for a false positive. Think of the numeric value as a confidence number. The higher the number the more sure the test is that it saw the antibodies. Ifor your next igg test is over 3.5 then I would be inclined to believe it's hsv2.
I understand your frustration on this and while hsv1 2 and shingles all respond to the same meds it doesn't mean they act the same or should be treated the same. Ugh!!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Exactly! Thank you so much for your answer I truly appreciate the advice! Are you a hsv expert or someone who has general knowledge about it?
15249123 tn?1478652475
It's a shame most Dr's are not up to speed on hsv and testing. Not type specific testing a positive sample is just stupid. Could have given you the answer and saved you all this trouble.
The 4.28 on the igg test is usually a conclusive positive value. Then again testing negative on the biokit is odd. I would either get another igg test and see what happens or contact the university of Washington and have them send you a western blot test kit. Have your Dr draw the blood and send it back. The western blot is the gold standard in hsv testing and is very thorough.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you for your reply! I am deeply frustrated that they did not type the culture and my doctor tells me it's because HSV1 HSV2 and shingles are all treated the same. And they also don't do index numbers for their IGG testing so I had to pay out of pocket to go somewhere that does! So frustrating, between paying to ask questions online and the IGG and biokit I've spent well over $500 on this when I could have known months ago! How long would you recommend I take another IGG test? What if it dips below 3.5? Has anyone ever had a >3.5 turn out to be false positive? I just don'tt understand why my biokit would be negative?!!! 5 months after the initial outbreak!
Avatar universal
To make the dates easier....
2/16/15 HSV1: equivocal HSV2: neg
7/8/15 HSV1: positive HSV2: neg
Partner unknown status 8/15-11/15 (protection 5 times, no protection 3 times)
New partner starting 5/26/15 (protection 100%)
6/22/16 HSV1: pos HSV2: neg
7/22/16 culture pos for HSV (not typed)
8/24/16 HSV: pos HSV2: neg
12/7/15 HSV 1.13 HSV2: 4.28
12/8/15 Biokit for HSV2: neg

Never had blisters again. Only pimple like bumps on buttocks, low back, thighs but MD says it's not herpes on visual exam.


Helpful - 0
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.