HSV I/II IgM Antibodies false positives

[tonym1965]

Dear Doctor,


I am going crazy and wanted your thoughts.

Had breif encounter with a women using condom and very quick.  
In addition she licked my scrotum and around my anus. Three weeks later started to show mild signs of itching and skin irrtiation in scrotum and around anus.

I also develop lower back pain and light leg numbness. I do have arthritis in my lower back and also recovering from guillen barre syndrome a few years back.


Went and had a labcorp test:

You have tested positive for
Dear Doctor,


I am going crazy and wanted your thoughts.

Had breif encounter with a women using condom and very quick.  
In addition she licked my scrotum and around my anus. Three weeks later started to show mild signs of itching and skin irrtiation in scrotum and around anus.

I also develop lower back pain and light leg numbness. I do have arthritis in my lower back and also recovering from guillen barre syndrome a few years back.





Went and had a labcorp test:

You have tested positive for HSV I/II IgM Antibodies > 1.96

You have tested negative for HSV Type 2-Specific Ab, IgG   1.96

You have tested negative for HSV Type 2-Specific Ab, IgG  <0.91  


I went to the doctor and he looked at my symptoms and said it does not appear to be classic gential herpes.  No blisters or sores but still have some irritaed skin.

The doctor also did a swap cuolture test on the areas that displayed the symptoms and they also came back negative.


Could the postive IgM test be false like I have heard?  I had chicken pox as a kid and probably like 80% of america would test psotive for HSV1.

Does this test also come out positive for antibodies in both active and inactive mode?



Also, I have had the symptoms for four weeks and really no difference.

Took three pills of FAMVIR 1500mg and really did nothing but make me sick for 24 hours.


Do you think if the antibodies were present and I had some form of skin irritation that the culture test would be fairly accurate.


I know it takes longer to get real results but I could have tested postive for HSV I/II IgM Antibodies for years.


Like everyone else I look down there and see stuff and start to think the worst.

What do you think the chances are that the anti bosies are for HSV1 only and HSV2 is negative.  Also, could the muscle aches and skin irritation just be from worrying and legacy

guillen barre syndrome trauma and arthritis?


Sorry to ramble on back am looking for your opionion but having very sleepless nights.

Tony

[maya111]

i feel so bad for you :( some/most doctors are idiots! i'm going through the same problem its like how can they perform test/diagnose people if they cant read/interpret them or even perform correct tests to catch it in a certain time freme window.if tha makes sense lmfao frustration lol

[gracefromHHP]

Hopefully you and your new doctor can get to the bottom of all this :)

You've ruled out herpes though definitely. I'm glad you sought out answers instead of believing someone who didn't know how to interpret the blood tests.

grace

[HelpSeeker28]

Hi grace,

First, thanks for your help. You seem to be really popular on helping people on this site.

Second, I am now pretty comfortable moving past the HSV thing -- I now think it is something else so am just looking for people with similar symptoms to see if they found any answers. The reason I was stuck on the HSV thing was because two doctors had falsely told me I had HSV - when I looked at the tests I realized they were wrong - and one of the doctors later corrected his diagnoses and said I do not have HSV.  A dermatologist didn't know how to read the blood test and told me I had HSV because I had a .68 igm ---which means negative, but he wrongly told me it was positive.  And actually -- a third doctor gave me an igm test ---the only igm test out of 4 I took ---that came back positive and then told me I probably have hsv.  

I feel I don't have hsv now since my igg has never been positive even after 6 months and I have never had an outbreak or rash--I am mad that there are doctors out there who don't know how to read the blood tests.  

Also, I am seeing this girl now and want to make sure I don't have any type of std I can pass to her.  I don't plan on being sexually active until we get married but don't want to get married until I am sure I can't give her anything.

Anyway -- at this point I don't think it is hsv but I am still trying to figure out what the problem is. I am still going to the doctor's often -- I think I finally found a decent one.  Will keep everyone updated in-case others are having similar issues.

Thanks for the help!

[gracefromHHP]

The igm should've never been drawn on you.  You do not have herpes. Do not ever let them draw the igm again .  Why are you having a hard time moving past the idea that you could have herpes?

grace

[HelpSeeker28]

Hey - I had a 1.40 IGM after 5 months from contact --- I used Labcorp -----before I used Quest and IGM was negative ----I ues Quest again at about 6  1/2 months and IGM was positive for EIA methodology but then negative for IFA methodology so the overall IGM was negative. My IGGs have always been negative aven after 6 months so I think I am in the clear. Just wanted to let you know what I found. I still have tingling and discomfort but only in the scrotal area? Have you had any luck finding the issue? See my post "6 months of hell" for my updates.

[gracefromHHP]

What part of never, ever, ever have the igm test was confusing? lol

grace

[tonym1965]

Grace,

I think I posted the wrong results.

The HSV IgM I/II combo was 1.97
the HSV2 IgG Type Spec was less than .91

Why should my doctor not run another IgM to see if the antibodies are increasing? I know this test reeks havoc on people.  I do not think I have herpes but am still scared by this 1.97 number.

I am no doctor but my symptoms and rash seemt oc ome and go throughout the day and sometimes dissapear on a daily basis.  WHen I do have symptoms it is irritable and I can feel discomfort but not itching.

I would think the herpes virus would keep on getting worse until it popped a blister and crusted over.  In addition. I would think that the infected skina rea would constantly be sore and not disappear from day to day.

Like I said I am no doctor but have been getting worked up over this IgM 1.96.  Maybe this is a msitake or just some residual antibody from HSV1.

I am still waiting on more blood work.  Felt greta yesterday, but today flared up a little bit.  My leg was tingling yesterday but feels fine today.  

I am confused and scared.  it has been six weeks since I would have been exposed.

[gracefromHHP]

If it was more than 48 hours after the start of symptoms, even a herpes pcr swab isn't of much use :(

Things that come and go like this aren't likely to be due to herpes.

The igm herpes test should NEVER, EVER, EVER be drawn on you again. Only the igg.

If you've tried 2 weeks of antifungals and this hasn't cleared up then see a dermatologist for further evaluation.

grace

[tonym1965]

Yes,  my doctor is running another blood test to see if this was an error.  I am praying that this was an mistake and the levels are going down and not up. I have also only used protected sex.

He did do a new DNA test from the infected area(scrotuma and anus) and it came back negative.  I think is encouraging but not out of the woods.

I have had symptoms for 3-4 weeks mostly on the scrotum and around the anus.  The skin is dry and cracked but I show no signs of blisters or sores or clusters.  My scrotum is also a deep red clore but does not itch.

It also seems to come and go on a daily basis.  My doctor says it does not display classical gential herpes but that does not mean anything.  

What also scares me is that I have this tingling that comes and goes in my leg which I read is some times an indicator.  However, I have had this kind of sensation for years becuase of having guillen barre syndrome years a go and also arhtritis in my back. This always have come and go and has not lasted for 3-4 weeks.  Maybe it is jsut the stress and emotional worrying that has made it worse.

I should get the new blood test back next week but wanted to know if the blood levels are still going up for HSV I/II IgM this could this still be HSV1 and not HSV2? If it is only HSV1 can the levels go up without having any symptoms in my mouth or lips?

Also,  if my level were going up I would suspect that the symtoms would get worse as I build anti-bodies and not stay the same or get a little better?  The red ball and dry skins kind of goes in and out day by day.

Any insight would be helpful.

[gracefromHHP]

Your hsv2 igg is a low positive and needs confirmed with further testing.

Totally disregard the igm - it should've never been drawn on you in the first place.

even if you are hsv2+, that doesn't mean that your current symptoms have anything to do with herpes.  Did your provider suggest any other sort of treatment like antifungals or anything?

grace