False Positive HSV2?

[friendhsv2pos]

My boyfriend and I decided to have STD testing done before becoming intimate because we both dislike using condoms and wanted to be safe. All my tests came back negative, but his Igg ELISA for HSV2 came back as 5.27. He has never had any symptoms, had been in only 2 long term monogamous relationships and neither woman ever had any symptoms. We are both shocked and saddened by his result. Can the 5.27 be a false positive? He wants to get retested. Should he repeat an ELISA or move onto Western Blot?

[gracefromHHP]

a hsv2 igg of 5.27 isn't likely to be a false positive. confirming it with a WB is a good idea if he wants to get more testing to be sure.

most folks don't get tested for herpes to know their status so he might never figure out the when and from whom part of it.

grace

[friendhsv2pos]

Thank you for the answer Grace. I have a question about how to proceed from here. I've been reading about this and I gather the safest way for us to be intimate involve him taking antivirals and us always using condoms. Do we need to use protection for oral sex as well?

[gracefromHHP]

what precautions the two of you take are totally up to you both.  you can contract hsv2 orally when you perform oral sex on him but over all the risk of such is very low. his being on daily suppressive therapy lowers your risk even more.

have you both had your gardasil hpv shots too?

[friendhsv2pos]

Hi,
We are well out of the recommended age group for HPV vaccines. He retested with the ELISA anyways, he just couldn't believe his results. The results came back at 3.4 this time. Why would it fluctuate so much within a week? With 2 positives do you think its useless to get the western blot?

[gracefromHHP]

if he needs the peace of mind, encourage him to follow up with a herpes WB blood test. It's likely to be positive but sometimes you just need that extra testing to help you move forward.