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Herpes swab and serology
Hello,
So I had a swab of a sore on my scrotum some months a go now ( > 6 months) that shows HSV-1.
I then had a HSV1/2 serology done that doesn’t show seroconversion to IgG (so serology is negative).
I wonder which is a more reliable test, which one was more likely a ‘false positive’ or ‘false negative’.
So I had a swab of a sore on my scrotum some months a go now ( > 6 months) that shows HSV-1.
I then had a HSV1/2 serology done that doesn’t show seroconversion to IgG (so serology is negative).
I wonder which is a more reliable test, which one was more likely a ‘false positive’ or ‘false negative’.
COMMUNITY LEADER
The culture is more accurate than the serology.
The blood test could be negative because it was too early to test, or because the hsv1 IgG misses 30% of hsv1 infections.
The good news is that with hsv1 genitally, it sheds infrequently, and recurs infrequently (many people never get another outbreak after the first), so you are unlikely to ever transmit it to anyone. Also, if someone has hsv1, even orally, they can't get it again from you.
Let me know if you have any questions.
The blood test could be negative because it was too early to test, or because the hsv1 IgG misses 30% of hsv1 infections.
The good news is that with hsv1 genitally, it sheds infrequently, and recurs infrequently (many people never get another outbreak after the first), so you are unlikely to ever transmit it to anyone. Also, if someone has hsv1, even orally, they can't get it again from you.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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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.
