Question about blood testing

[Rai86]

I'm a 27 yr old male and have recently tested positive for hsv-2. I've only had two sexual partners in my life and it could have been from either person. Ever since I found out the news I've had mixed emotions with the whole situation. I've been searching online and read about all the different blood tests that are available for herpes. Some of course being the standard and others to avoid. I got my blood test done from kaiser permanente and I asked my doctor what type of blood test it was I was given and all he told me was their tests are fairly accurate. I received a letter from the lab showing IGG, and showing a positive result for hsv-2
And negative for hsv-1. That's it so I don't know if I should go by what the hospital test results show or if I should go to a separate lab to get tested.

I'm concerned because I've read online that even if you test positive for one type of the virus, doesn't mean you have the other one. Everytime I look at my face and see bumps or what look like could be pimples I think it's herpes. I really don't know what to think anymore. I know I've had an outbreak in my genital area or the upper part close to my upper thigh, because all the signs showed hsv-2. I've been taking acyclovir since I noticed the outbreak a week ago. My question is should I go to a separate lab to get tested on my own? Some other helpful sites like ASHA inform people of the type of blood test a person could take if they want to know if they have hsv-1
Or hsv-2 or both. Any information would be helpful at the moment as this is a very stressful situation at the moment.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Your doctor would be the source of the test kit to use at home.

Terri

[Rai86]

Where can I get a hold of the home kit test?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Good.  I would recommend that you have the swab test kit at home, and gather a sample yourself with any new outbreak, rather than having to try to get an appointment right away for swabbing in his office.  We do this all the time and it works well for people.

Terri

[Rai86]

I can ask my doctor.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

If you could get a swab test of the lesions, you wouldn't have to worry about the confirmatory blood test.  Would that be possible?

Terri

[Rai86]

The outbreak that occurred in my pelvic area looked like blisters. I had one where I noticed it was on my upper left pelvic area that turned into a bump and I remember getting out of the shower and saw it was oozing fluid. Also, there were other bumps that started to show around the area above my shaft. They were never there before and I think from knowing  that it was herpes had made the outbreak occur.
Yes your right I have probably had previous outbreaks before and I probably have had HSV for years.  When I noticed the outbreak I immediately asked my doctor what to do and that's when he prescribed me the acyclovir.  No swab test was done and I can see if Kaiser can provide me a numerical value for the IgG test.
The outbreak showed characteristics of a herpes episode. One of my main concerns also is if I have HSV 1. I keep checking to see if what may look like pimples is a possible outbreak happening. But having a confirmatory test done like the Western Blot tell me what I actually have can ease my mind I guess.
Thank you for responding

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You ask important questions, but I need a little more information before I can provide you with the best information.  When you describe having outbreaks, can you describe those for me?  Was any swab testing done from the outbreak?  Do you know or can you get the numeric value associated with your HSV 2 positive IgG?  That's important.  If it is under 3.5 you may wish to get a confirmatory test, not the same kind of test that you had done at Kaiser.    

If you had a truly positive IgG antibody test and an outbreak, this is not your first outbreak; it suggests that you've been infected for a while.  I have actually seen, and not that infrequently, people who test positive for HSV 2, usually at a lower number, and negative for HSV 1.  They then get confirmatory testing by western blot and the results come up the opposite; positive for HSV 1 and negative for HSV 2.  That's because the screening IgG is not very good for HSV 1 so it missed the HSV 1 infection and the HSV 2 is low positive and a false positive due to cross reaction with the HSV 1 antibody.  

If you have let me know more information, I can help you better.

Terri