HSV Test Reliability and Window Periods

[Guest3714]

I tested negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 at 9 weeks, 5 days after my last intimate contact (no sex, just foreplay and a condom was used). I've never had symptoms, neither has he. After researching herpes online, I was (pleasantly) surprised that my HSV-1 result was negative, as it seems most people carry this strain. I've researched the test (Trinity Biotech Captia type specific through LabCorp) and get varying ranges on its accuracy (90-100%), as well as varying seroconversion windows (2-16 weeks). I have severe OCD and anxiety (med-compliant) and have been obsessing over the possibility of a false negative to the point where it's making me sick. Is a negative result almost 10 weeks after last contact a fairly reliable indicator that I'm negative? Is one test sufficient? Should I be retested at the 12 and 16 week marks and use different tests (ie- the Herpeselect) to get the most reliable result?

I have only had two intimate partners in my life (never sex, but enough kissing and foreplay to warrant STD screening). The first recently mentioned that he gets frequent cold sores, and has since he was a child (though he said he recently got tested for "everything" and was negative). We were only intimate for about 2 months (his mouth never went below my belly). It's been over 8 months since we've been together. Is it safe to say that the antibodies would have shown by now? I just don't know what to make of the high prevalence of HSV-1 among U.S. adults, and my negative results (I'm 27 y/o if that matters) after being with someone who has it. And if he were tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2, why would his results have come back negative, if he gets cold sores? I want to stop obsessing over this, but I worry that maybe I was tested too soon and/or the test may have missed it.

[Guest3714]

I posted this in the Expert Forum, but noticed in another post that Terri Warren would not be responding to posts for a few weeks. I was hoping some community members might be able to offer me some guidance:

I previously posted a question here: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/Herpes-Risk-and-Testing-Window/show/2127082#post_10111834

My ex got tested on 4/25/14. His results were:

Equivocal for HSV-1 (1.0, with a <.9 Negative cutoff)
Negative for HSV-2
Positive I/II IgM (.95 with a .9 Negative cutoff). He tested through Dynacare.

All my tests at 9, 11, 13, and 19 weeks were Negative, through LabCorp with the Captia test.

His doctor told him that his results were negative and he didn't have to worry about having anything (though he also told him he was "exposed" to herpes, but not positive). However, the lab report clearly states he is Equivocal for HSV-1 and Positive I/II IgM.

I understand the IgM is not generally considered a reliable test, but his equivocal status has me worried. His lab report stated the test was glycoprotein. Is this the same as immunosorbent (like the Captia)? Given his equivocal status, should I retest again, even though I tested negative at 19 weeks?

I have severe OCD, but I had let this go.....until he showed me the results today.

Thanks!

[Life360_Dave]

At 79 days testing negative im sure at the 3 month mark it will be negative as well.

[Guest3714]

Out of my paranoia and desire for peace of mind, I retested, again through Lab Corp with the Captia test, at 79 days (to rule out a false negative from my first ex boyfriend from 8 months ago who gets cold sores). Both strains came back negative again. Unless the second ex from 11 weeks ago) comes back positive, can I stop testing for and obsessing over this (it's literally been making me depressed and sick to my stomach with worry)? I'm healthy and have no symptoms, so can I rely on two negatives at 11 weeks? I read the FDA approval explanation of the clinical trials on the Captia test, and it appears to be highly accurate if a person is negative for both strains (though slightly less sensitive if either strain is present). Though I didn't see mention of a seroconversion window, so I'm not sure why people say 16 weeks for the Captia and only 12 for the Herpeselect.

[Guest3714]

Thank you. One more question at the moment. Since its been 8 months between when I was last with my ex who said he's gotten cold sores since he was a kid and when I took the test, can I rest assured that I didn't get hsv-1 from him or it would have shown up in the test after 8 months (we had lots of deep kissing)? I was relieved seeing the negative, but that was just one test, and while Trinity Biotech says they have sensitivity of 100% with their captia test, I keep reading about how false negatives are common. Is the reason they're common because people test too early, or because of the actual test itself?

[Life360_Dave]

Herpes select but its really most likely to come back negative

[Guest3714]

Thank you for your response. Would it be better to use the same test (Captia) for the follow up tests (I want to be sure), or should I use a different test such as the Herpeselect? Is one more reliably accurate than the other?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, nine weeks is a good indicator