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HSV-2 Retest or not?
Ok I know there are a lot of post here abouts this. I need help interpreting my recent results.
This is taken exactly of the lab report that I received.
April 19:
Herpes simplex Virus IgM : <.91
Herpes simplex Virus IgG : 17.6*H
May 2:
Herpes simplex Virus Type 2 IgG : 2.82*H
May 8:
Herpes simplex Virus IgG Type 1 : waiting
Like so many others who have posted here this was a new information for me. I went in and got tested b/c a female partner of mine informed me she tested positive for chlaymdia. I asked doctor for a std screen and specifically asked for hsv. Test came back all clear except the first two hsv tests listed above. Over the phone they told me everything was good but I tested positive for hsv. They said it was inactive and contracted in the past. They could not tell me if it was type 1 or type 2. They made it sound like nothing to worry about. No consult, no further testing, no medication. I did worry and requested more information than they gave me. They sent me for the hsv2 IgG and I came back positive at 2.82. Went in got the results and talked with my doctor. I requested the hsv 1 specific and I am waiting for results. My doctor said pay no attention to the number values the don't mean anything. It's yes or no. The girl who told me she tested positive for chlaymdia and I last had unprotected sex at the end of march. I can't believe I came back negative for chlamydia. I was tested initially on April 19. Then tested May 2, then again May 8. Before her I had protected sex in October of last year. Before that I was in a year long relationship. No previous partners have informed me of any hsv concerns. I have had no known outbreak to date. What's next? There is a lot of talk about the 3.5 threshold and getting retested. Is it really worth it? I told my most recent partner and she said that she was negative for both hsv. Her tests occurred sometime between end of March after we had our last interactions and April 18th. She feels like she is in the clear. If am am infected with hsv 1 or 2 or both shouldn't she be concerned and get tested again further away from our contact?
Any help here would be great....
This is taken exactly of the lab report that I received.
April 19:
Herpes simplex Virus IgM : <.91
Herpes simplex Virus IgG : 17.6*H
May 2:
Herpes simplex Virus Type 2 IgG : 2.82*H
May 8:
Herpes simplex Virus IgG Type 1 : waiting
Like so many others who have posted here this was a new information for me. I went in and got tested b/c a female partner of mine informed me she tested positive for chlaymdia. I asked doctor for a std screen and specifically asked for hsv. Test came back all clear except the first two hsv tests listed above. Over the phone they told me everything was good but I tested positive for hsv. They said it was inactive and contracted in the past. They could not tell me if it was type 1 or type 2. They made it sound like nothing to worry about. No consult, no further testing, no medication. I did worry and requested more information than they gave me. They sent me for the hsv2 IgG and I came back positive at 2.82. Went in got the results and talked with my doctor. I requested the hsv 1 specific and I am waiting for results. My doctor said pay no attention to the number values the don't mean anything. It's yes or no. The girl who told me she tested positive for chlaymdia and I last had unprotected sex at the end of march. I can't believe I came back negative for chlamydia. I was tested initially on April 19. Then tested May 2, then again May 8. Before her I had protected sex in October of last year. Before that I was in a year long relationship. No previous partners have informed me of any hsv concerns. I have had no known outbreak to date. What's next? There is a lot of talk about the 3.5 threshold and getting retested. Is it really worth it? I told my most recent partner and she said that she was negative for both hsv. Her tests occurred sometime between end of March after we had our last interactions and April 18th. She feels like she is in the clear. If am am infected with hsv 1 or 2 or both shouldn't she be concerned and get tested again further away from our contact?
Any help here would be great....
I have had no symptoms genitally. I have been checked out visually by a doctor and dermatologist in the past but was for different reasons. Is it possible to have HSV2 in a different location than genitally?
You look to have had a different testing kit for the most recent test compared to the previous ones. The results could therefore be somewhat different depending on a few things.
I would have to agree with you that this looks to be a positive for HSV2. Maybe you will feel the Westernblot is necessary, but probably only if you a quite sure you've had no observable symptoms genitally. Your degree of comfort is the one that needs satisfying.
I would also suggest that you have quite possibly had HSV2 for a long time. Hence there is no guarantee at all it is the lady with chlamydia as the source or anyone recent. It is worthwhile doing some thinking as to who you contact now looking back if anyone at all. Again the Westernblot may give you the comfort you're making calls for a reason.
I would have to agree with you that this looks to be a positive for HSV2. Maybe you will feel the Westernblot is necessary, but probably only if you a quite sure you've had no observable symptoms genitally. Your degree of comfort is the one that needs satisfying.
I would also suggest that you have quite possibly had HSV2 for a long time. Hence there is no guarantee at all it is the lady with chlamydia as the source or anyone recent. It is worthwhile doing some thinking as to who you contact now looking back if anyone at all. Again the Westernblot may give you the comfort you're making calls for a reason.
Have not been able to get a western blot yet. It is now September. I re-tested at a clinic for hsv2 igg test on September 1. Result came back as simply over >5. Clinician said there are only 3 categories of results for their tes. below threshold of .91, .91 to 3.5, and over 5. So that is 3 non-western blot tests positive in 5 months. All tests have occurred after my last sexual encounter. I don't have visible symptoms. Seems pretty clear with 3 tests agreeing. Is a western blot still worth the trouble? Previous post says that numbers will fluctuate but I didn't understand the large spike since June. Any advice would be helpful..
Yes, but not until 16 weeks since your last sexual encounter. The fact that the value dropped isn't really significant. Numbers will fluctuate with each testing.
The fact remains that you haven't had symptoms, and your test is a low positive. WB is the only way to sort it out.
The fact remains that you haven't had symptoms, and your test is a low positive. WB is the only way to sort it out.
Also I am wondering about getting a western blot. 16 weeks would be mid July. Is it still worth getting a WB to confirm to low scores of 2.82/2.41?
Read above to follow the whole story. Retested on June 6th. Found out the test is through LabCorp.
Results:
HSV 2: 2.41
So the value is going down since first test. Anyone have any comments on that?
Results:
HSV 2: 2.41
So the value is going down since first test. Anyone have any comments on that?
Well I have been on the emotional roller coaster lately so I have decided to do the following....
I am going to retest tomorrow June 3, 2013 using the exact method as the first time. I intend to get a western blot when I reach the 16 week past last sexual encounter. I guess I am going to do this and post all the information in hopes that it will help others and myself.
I am going to offer a complete recap for anyone interested as well as any updates as they come in.
I am a 39 year old white male. Very good health and fitness level. I have never had multiple partners at the same time. I spent 11 years in a relationship where I was completely monogamous. Not even a kiss to another. I realize that doesn't mean my partner was monogamous. I have spent my 30's in the dating world having 5 partners in 8 years. I have had healthcare throughout my life. Several years ago I was concerned about bumps on my penis and had my doctor and a dermatologist check it out. Result was they believe it to be Fordyce Syndrome. I have been tested for std's/sti's more than once and have never tested positive for anything including HIV. There is a real possibility that I was exposed to HPV 3 years ago as a partner feels that is the case due to irregular pap. She was a virgin so it seems likely that I was exposed prior to her. Last sexual encounter was end of March 2013. I have never had any known outbreaks, but freely admit to not being nearly as educated about symptoms as I am now. Since becoming more educated I still have not noticed any symptoms. Tests are as follows...
First Test 3 weeks and 2 days since last sexual encounter
April 19:
Herpes simplex Virus IgM : <.91
Herpes simplex Virus IgG : 17.6*H
Second tests 5 weeks since last sexual encounter
May 2:
Herpes simplex Virus Type 2 IgG : 2.82*H
Third tests 6 weeks since last sexual encounter
May 8:
Herpes simplex Virus IgG Type 1 : negative
I still have not been informed by my doctor as to which type of herpes test I was given. I will post that when I find out. If the tests seem to not make much sense in terms of order that is because the lab ran the wrong test the first time and I had to go back to get the ones my doctor ordered. Believe me I am not very happy to have blood drawn 3 times instead of once. The 16 week mark will be reached on July 17, 2013. I obviously plan on no sexual interactions until I am satisfied that I have a result that I can count on as accurate.
This is all back story so that if others are out there similar to me they can follow this post. I imagine like others that I am hoping for good news. I am accepting the positive result and living and planning accordingly. Obviously I got this somewhere sometime but have no way of determining who or when. I did inform my last partner but no other past partners yet. Yes it has ruined that relationship. Why did I get tested? Well My last partner informed me that she tested positive for chlamydia in her normal yearly check up. I got tested the next day and was negative for chlamydia. The doctor threw in hsv testing for the hell of it. My last partner had trouble believing that I was not the source of her chlamydia. It was not fun to tell her that I was + for hsv2. She claims that she was tested for hsv1 and hsv2 post sex with me as part of the same check up and is negative on both. I told her that if I am infected that she should be tested again further out from our last encounter to be sure. She did not respond to that. I will make one more attempt to inform her of the necessary time for accurate testing but that is all I can do. Sorry for the extended story but again this is an attempt to help others in the same situation and myself as well. I will say I am thankful for this forum on several levels. I will post again in the future.
I am going to retest tomorrow June 3, 2013 using the exact method as the first time. I intend to get a western blot when I reach the 16 week past last sexual encounter. I guess I am going to do this and post all the information in hopes that it will help others and myself.
I am going to offer a complete recap for anyone interested as well as any updates as they come in.
I am a 39 year old white male. Very good health and fitness level. I have never had multiple partners at the same time. I spent 11 years in a relationship where I was completely monogamous. Not even a kiss to another. I realize that doesn't mean my partner was monogamous. I have spent my 30's in the dating world having 5 partners in 8 years. I have had healthcare throughout my life. Several years ago I was concerned about bumps on my penis and had my doctor and a dermatologist check it out. Result was they believe it to be Fordyce Syndrome. I have been tested for std's/sti's more than once and have never tested positive for anything including HIV. There is a real possibility that I was exposed to HPV 3 years ago as a partner feels that is the case due to irregular pap. She was a virgin so it seems likely that I was exposed prior to her. Last sexual encounter was end of March 2013. I have never had any known outbreaks, but freely admit to not being nearly as educated about symptoms as I am now. Since becoming more educated I still have not noticed any symptoms. Tests are as follows...
First Test 3 weeks and 2 days since last sexual encounter
April 19:
Herpes simplex Virus IgM : <.91
Herpes simplex Virus IgG : 17.6*H
Second tests 5 weeks since last sexual encounter
May 2:
Herpes simplex Virus Type 2 IgG : 2.82*H
Third tests 6 weeks since last sexual encounter
May 8:
Herpes simplex Virus IgG Type 1 : negative
I still have not been informed by my doctor as to which type of herpes test I was given. I will post that when I find out. If the tests seem to not make much sense in terms of order that is because the lab ran the wrong test the first time and I had to go back to get the ones my doctor ordered. Believe me I am not very happy to have blood drawn 3 times instead of once. The 16 week mark will be reached on July 17, 2013. I obviously plan on no sexual interactions until I am satisfied that I have a result that I can count on as accurate.
This is all back story so that if others are out there similar to me they can follow this post. I imagine like others that I am hoping for good news. I am accepting the positive result and living and planning accordingly. Obviously I got this somewhere sometime but have no way of determining who or when. I did inform my last partner but no other past partners yet. Yes it has ruined that relationship. Why did I get tested? Well My last partner informed me that she tested positive for chlamydia in her normal yearly check up. I got tested the next day and was negative for chlamydia. The doctor threw in hsv testing for the hell of it. My last partner had trouble believing that I was not the source of her chlamydia. It was not fun to tell her that I was + for hsv2. She claims that she was tested for hsv1 and hsv2 post sex with me as part of the same check up and is negative on both. I told her that if I am infected that she should be tested again further out from our last encounter to be sure. She did not respond to that. I will make one more attempt to inform her of the necessary time for accurate testing but that is all I can do. Sorry for the extended story but again this is an attempt to help others in the same situation and myself as well. I will say I am thankful for this forum on several levels. I will post again in the future.
update
hsv1 igg came back negative... so..
hsv1 : negative
hsv2 : positive 2.82
Doctor ok'd a retest using same mehtod. However he didn't know the exact type of test that I had.
hsv1 igg came back negative... so..
hsv1 : negative
hsv2 : positive 2.82
Doctor ok'd a retest using same mehtod. However he didn't know the exact type of test that I had.
your hsv igg of 17.6 is a combined herpes test. we don't recommend its use in adults but many providers still order it :( It being positive tells you absolutely nothing about your herpes status. you could be hsv1+, hsv2+, both or neither - this test doesn't tell you that.
your hsv2 igg of 2.82 was a low positive. at this point since you last had sex fairly recently prior to testing, wait and repeat this test after 3 months post encounter. your other option is to wait at least 4 months and seek out a herpes WB blood test.
grace
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