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Confusing HSV2 IgG test results
I took a 10 panel + urine test earlier this week, and these were the results:
164897 HSV Type 1-Specific Ab, IgG: 44.9
163033 HSV-2 Type Spec Ab, IgG w/Rflx: 1.82
163006 HSV-2 IgG Supplemental Test:
Abnormal Positive Negative
I'm at peace with the positive HSV1 result, as I'm fairly certain my mother has had periodic cold sores as long as I can remember (well into my childhood).
However, the HSV2 results are confusing. I've read differing opinions on whether or not a positive HSV1 infection can corrupt the results of a HSV2 IgG test, especially if the HSV2 value is between 1-3 (mine being 1.82).
I have never had a lesion that has swelled and popped, just small raised hair follicles every now and then that I assume is from shaving and irritation. I have a couple small marks on my penis, but they don't swell, don't blister, don't pop, and have been there for well over a year without changing much. I assume those are natural skin anomalies. They don't itch or bother me at all, just slightly unsightly.
The 1.82 HSV2 result, along with the "abnormal positive negative" verbiage written after the supplemental test is confusing, especially with no hsv2 symptoms. I really just took the test on a whim. I'm negative for HIV, HEP A/B/C, and most of my blood work is normal.
"Positive/Equivocal Negative Unable to confirm the presence of IgG antibodies to HSV-2. Recommend retesting in 2-4 weeks."
That was the exact verbiage after the supplemental test.
I guess I'm just looking for advice on whether or not it's worth getting the Western Blot test, or if I should do another antibody test 2-4 weeks from now. If a 2nd antibody test is likely to be inconclusive as well, I would rather just pay the money for the Western Blot and be sure of my status.
Another fact is that I haven't had sex, or even kissed anyone, in over 2 years. From what I've been reading, a low-positive result is typically associated with a new infection, which would be impossible (at least within the past 2 years), before the body has developed many antibodies. My thought is that with 2+ years of no sex, and a 1.8 positive result, it's likely a false positive, but any opinions on the matter (and whether or not more testing is prudent) are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
164897 HSV Type 1-Specific Ab, IgG: 44.9
163033 HSV-2 Type Spec Ab, IgG w/Rflx: 1.82
163006 HSV-2 IgG Supplemental Test:
Abnormal Positive Negative
I'm at peace with the positive HSV1 result, as I'm fairly certain my mother has had periodic cold sores as long as I can remember (well into my childhood).
However, the HSV2 results are confusing. I've read differing opinions on whether or not a positive HSV1 infection can corrupt the results of a HSV2 IgG test, especially if the HSV2 value is between 1-3 (mine being 1.82).
I have never had a lesion that has swelled and popped, just small raised hair follicles every now and then that I assume is from shaving and irritation. I have a couple small marks on my penis, but they don't swell, don't blister, don't pop, and have been there for well over a year without changing much. I assume those are natural skin anomalies. They don't itch or bother me at all, just slightly unsightly.
The 1.82 HSV2 result, along with the "abnormal positive negative" verbiage written after the supplemental test is confusing, especially with no hsv2 symptoms. I really just took the test on a whim. I'm negative for HIV, HEP A/B/C, and most of my blood work is normal.
"Positive/Equivocal Negative Unable to confirm the presence of IgG antibodies to HSV-2. Recommend retesting in 2-4 weeks."
That was the exact verbiage after the supplemental test.
I guess I'm just looking for advice on whether or not it's worth getting the Western Blot test, or if I should do another antibody test 2-4 weeks from now. If a 2nd antibody test is likely to be inconclusive as well, I would rather just pay the money for the Western Blot and be sure of my status.
Another fact is that I haven't had sex, or even kissed anyone, in over 2 years. From what I've been reading, a low-positive result is typically associated with a new infection, which would be impossible (at least within the past 2 years), before the body has developed many antibodies. My thought is that with 2+ years of no sex, and a 1.8 positive result, it's likely a false positive, but any opinions on the matter (and whether or not more testing is prudent) are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
COMMUNITY LEADER
First, I'm sorry you're about to go through all this, and second, you've already answered your question exactly as I would have.
Having hsv1 can cause false positives in some people, as can a normal blood protein some people have. The protein isn't related to herpes, but it trips the test up.
My guess - and it's a guess - is that your supplemental was inconclusive, but it doesn't matter because those seem to be really unreliable.
So, I think a Western Blot is a good idea, if you have insurance and a doctor who will order it, or you can afford to self-pay and can go through Terri Warren. (https://westoverheights.com/getting-a-herpes-western-blot/)
If you decide to do the WB, or even if you don't, I can link a bunch of other threads from people who tested positive on the IgG and were neg on the WB.
Keep us posted. :)
Having hsv1 can cause false positives in some people, as can a normal blood protein some people have. The protein isn't related to herpes, but it trips the test up.
My guess - and it's a guess - is that your supplemental was inconclusive, but it doesn't matter because those seem to be really unreliable.
So, I think a Western Blot is a good idea, if you have insurance and a doctor who will order it, or you can afford to self-pay and can go through Terri Warren. (https://westoverheights.com/getting-a-herpes-western-blot/)
If you decide to do the WB, or even if you don't, I can link a bunch of other threads from people who tested positive on the IgG and were neg on the WB.
Keep us posted. :)
2 Comments
Thank you so much for your prompt response! To save you the writing, I've read dozens of your other responses while waiting for my hsv2 result, since hsv1 came back first, and I was prepping for the bad news.
Come to think of it, I had 1 episode (~6 years ago) of what looked like 5 or 6 raised hair follicles in the area between my stomach and the base of my penis. They looked raised and mildly infected, but from what I remember all the bumps emanated from hair follicles. I put some triple antibiotic on it (small area about 1" in diameter), and it went away within 1-2 days, never blistering or popping or oozing anything, even though the tips were white. I noticed those the morning after having unprotected sex with a regular partner, and protected sex with her female friend at the same time. From what I've read, herpes wouldn't generally be that quick to show, and it's very possible I shaved prior to the encounter, and that irritation was the main culprit. It could also be that I'm justifying the 1 small outbreak that I had, which was cleared up by antibiotic in a day or so. I don't know, but nothing like that has happened since. I do remember reading that the skin in that area is too thick for hsv to penetrate, but maybe shaving irritation allowed it in. Who knows. Nothing like that has appeared since then.
From reading your other posts, I also saw that antibodies for hsv1 may prevent the development of hsv2 antibodies in some people. In my mind, that makes sense, since I have also read an article that people exposed to SARS in the early 2000s had developed antibodies that actually protected them from SARSCovi-2, even though the 2 viruses are about 20% different. Perhaps if I had hsv1 for much of my life, those antibodies may have primed my body against hsv2, which might be the reason for my body not developing many hsv2 antibodies even though I contacted the hsv2 virus. Again, I'm just postulating, but it's food for thought - maybe that's a silver lining to having hsv1.
To be brutally honest, I've had over 50 partners I can remember, and most probably over 100 in my lifetime. All young (<30, most <25), mostly protected (outside of long-term relationships), and mostly showering shortly after the encounter.
Strange thing is I'm 35 and never had a sore on my lips or genitals. I occasionally get a non-visible sore on my tongue that goes away in 1-3 days, and sometimes elsewhere on the inside of my mouth, but generally it's where my teeth rub against the inside of my mouth (which is a bit too small for all my teeth anyway).
I'll say this because it may help other people here. After having gotten very sick Feb 1, 2020, I quit energy drinks and started supplementing vitamins daily. I make sure to get 30-80mg zinc daily, 500-1000mg Quercetin, 1 drop of nascent iodine orally, and a general multivitamin that includes selenium, calcium, and most everything else we should have. I've read that Quercetin is a natural zinc ionophore, which helps zinc penetrate into your body's cells, thwarting viral replication. I haven't read that anywhere else on this forum, but it would make sense to me that it may be a natural way to help control people's hsv outbreaks without resorting to synthetic antivirals. Also, it's safe to take daily, as long as you take periodic breaks and don't overdo the zinc (or selenium).
I don't have insurance, and am really past the point of sexual hedonism in my life, so for now I'm abstaining from intercourse at least until I can afford a Western Blot test. I paid $300 to find all this out, but that was well worth it. I'm moving across the country, so when I evaluate my finances after that, I will probably get a WB test. I just thought it was strange to have such a high HSV1 result, and such a relatively low HSV2 result. When I eventually get a WB, I will update this thread with the results.
Again, thank you so much for just being here for people.
Come to think of it, I had 1 episode (~6 years ago) of what looked like 5 or 6 raised hair follicles in the area between my stomach and the base of my penis. They looked raised and mildly infected, but from what I remember all the bumps emanated from hair follicles. I put some triple antibiotic on it (small area about 1" in diameter), and it went away within 1-2 days, never blistering or popping or oozing anything, even though the tips were white. I noticed those the morning after having unprotected sex with a regular partner, and protected sex with her female friend at the same time. From what I've read, herpes wouldn't generally be that quick to show, and it's very possible I shaved prior to the encounter, and that irritation was the main culprit. It could also be that I'm justifying the 1 small outbreak that I had, which was cleared up by antibiotic in a day or so. I don't know, but nothing like that has happened since. I do remember reading that the skin in that area is too thick for hsv to penetrate, but maybe shaving irritation allowed it in. Who knows. Nothing like that has appeared since then.
From reading your other posts, I also saw that antibodies for hsv1 may prevent the development of hsv2 antibodies in some people. In my mind, that makes sense, since I have also read an article that people exposed to SARS in the early 2000s had developed antibodies that actually protected them from SARSCovi-2, even though the 2 viruses are about 20% different. Perhaps if I had hsv1 for much of my life, those antibodies may have primed my body against hsv2, which might be the reason for my body not developing many hsv2 antibodies even though I contacted the hsv2 virus. Again, I'm just postulating, but it's food for thought - maybe that's a silver lining to having hsv1.
To be brutally honest, I've had over 50 partners I can remember, and most probably over 100 in my lifetime. All young (<30, most <25), mostly protected (outside of long-term relationships), and mostly showering shortly after the encounter.
Strange thing is I'm 35 and never had a sore on my lips or genitals. I occasionally get a non-visible sore on my tongue that goes away in 1-3 days, and sometimes elsewhere on the inside of my mouth, but generally it's where my teeth rub against the inside of my mouth (which is a bit too small for all my teeth anyway).
I'll say this because it may help other people here. After having gotten very sick Feb 1, 2020, I quit energy drinks and started supplementing vitamins daily. I make sure to get 30-80mg zinc daily, 500-1000mg Quercetin, 1 drop of nascent iodine orally, and a general multivitamin that includes selenium, calcium, and most everything else we should have. I've read that Quercetin is a natural zinc ionophore, which helps zinc penetrate into your body's cells, thwarting viral replication. I haven't read that anywhere else on this forum, but it would make sense to me that it may be a natural way to help control people's hsv outbreaks without resorting to synthetic antivirals. Also, it's safe to take daily, as long as you take periodic breaks and don't overdo the zinc (or selenium).
I don't have insurance, and am really past the point of sexual hedonism in my life, so for now I'm abstaining from intercourse at least until I can afford a Western Blot test. I paid $300 to find all this out, but that was well worth it. I'm moving across the country, so when I evaluate my finances after that, I will probably get a WB test. I just thought it was strange to have such a high HSV1 result, and such a relatively low HSV2 result. When I eventually get a WB, I will update this thread with the results.
Again, thank you so much for just being here for people.
Your previous bumps do sound like folliculitis - they went away quickly with treatment, and responded to the antibiotic ointment. It doesn't sound at all like herpes.
Herpes is a virus - it wouldn't respond to an antibiotic, which works to kill bacteria.
Hsv1 can delay development of hsv2 antibodies, not prevent them. If it does delay them, it's only by a short time. Everyone will develop them by 12 weeks. It won't mean that you don't produce enough for a reliable test.
The issue with hsv2 testing is not in your body. It's the test. The cutoff is probably too low. We know that 50% of people who get a result lower than 3.5 have a false positive. The lower the result, the higher the chance. Someone who gets a 1.19, for example, has about a 90-95% chance of a false positive. They cut it off at 1.10 because a few people might be positive at that range, but so many others won't be.
People with hsv1 can trip the test, as can people with a totally normal blood protein. It's a flaw in the test.
Good luck with your move. That's exciting! Definitely let me know what happens if you decide to get the WB. Take care. :)
Herpes is a virus - it wouldn't respond to an antibiotic, which works to kill bacteria.
Hsv1 can delay development of hsv2 antibodies, not prevent them. If it does delay them, it's only by a short time. Everyone will develop them by 12 weeks. It won't mean that you don't produce enough for a reliable test.
The issue with hsv2 testing is not in your body. It's the test. The cutoff is probably too low. We know that 50% of people who get a result lower than 3.5 have a false positive. The lower the result, the higher the chance. Someone who gets a 1.19, for example, has about a 90-95% chance of a false positive. They cut it off at 1.10 because a few people might be positive at that range, but so many others won't be.
People with hsv1 can trip the test, as can people with a totally normal blood protein. It's a flaw in the test.
Good luck with your move. That's exciting! Definitely let me know what happens if you decide to get the WB. Take care. :)
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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.
