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Herpes Zoster Vaccine and False Positives for HSV2
Hello and thank you for letting me post this question.
I have read on several other authoritative sources that an antibody response to Herpes Zoster can cause a high index number on a serologic IgG rest for HSV2. I had the one shot HZV which I believe contains live virus 8-12 weeks later I was tested for HSV 1/2 at quest diagnostics and again four weeks later. My results were negative for hsv1 and 9/10 for hsv2. I should mention I have never had an outbreak or symptoms my entire life. My wife is also negative for hsv2. Does anyone have any data or evidence that the HZV immune response can show up in an HSV2 IgG result? I am working on getting a western blot test as well and hopefully that can distinguish the difference. Thank you!
I have read on several other authoritative sources that an antibody response to Herpes Zoster can cause a high index number on a serologic IgG rest for HSV2. I had the one shot HZV which I believe contains live virus 8-12 weeks later I was tested for HSV 1/2 at quest diagnostics and again four weeks later. My results were negative for hsv1 and 9/10 for hsv2. I should mention I have never had an outbreak or symptoms my entire life. My wife is also negative for hsv2. Does anyone have any data or evidence that the HZV immune response can show up in an HSV2 IgG result? I am working on getting a western blot test as well and hopefully that can distinguish the difference. Thank you!
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I'm not finding much about the shingles vax and false positives on the hsv2.
I do know that false positives can happen for lots of reasons - the most common being that the test picks up on normal blood proteins.
The higher the index value, though, the lower the chance of it being a false positive. I *think* the highest Terri Warren has seen is 17. (Don't quote me on that - it might be wrong.)
Get the WB. I don't want to give you false hope, but anything is possible. It's also possible that you've had hsv2 this whole time and didn't know it.
I know no one wants herpes, but if you've had it this whole time, nothing should really change for you and your wife, practically speaking.
I can tell this is kind of eating you up. Don't let it. Get the testing done, but don't let this change you if it is positive, okay?
How's your wife feeling about all this?
I do know that false positives can happen for lots of reasons - the most common being that the test picks up on normal blood proteins.
The higher the index value, though, the lower the chance of it being a false positive. I *think* the highest Terri Warren has seen is 17. (Don't quote me on that - it might be wrong.)
Get the WB. I don't want to give you false hope, but anything is possible. It's also possible that you've had hsv2 this whole time and didn't know it.
I know no one wants herpes, but if you've had it this whole time, nothing should really change for you and your wife, practically speaking.
I can tell this is kind of eating you up. Don't let it. Get the testing done, but don't let this change you if it is positive, okay?
How's your wife feeling about all this?
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Hi Auntie Jessie,
Thank you for asking. I tend to be a problem solver and this is a problem without a solution. At first it really freaked both of us out. Now, with more information, we are just plain perplexed. We have added a condom into the mix, because I certainly don't want to be responsible for her getting something on her mouth or other places. With her high HSV1 IGG of 50 and my high HSV2 IGG of 10, I feel like our immune systems are doing a good job keeping things suppressed I feel like I'm not going to get HSV1 since I have a better immunity. After all these years, I haven't shared HSV2 with her and she hasn't shared HSV1 with me. We should probably buy lottery tickets and try our luck. I am going to try the lottery ticket of the Western Blot and see what happens. We are going to be fine, it's a new phase, that's all. We are learning more than we wanted to know about HSV that's for sure. Thanks again for your support and I will report back with the WB when it comes back. I got my doc to write the order, I've requested a kit from UW, and there's a lab nearby that will do the bloodwork. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for asking. I tend to be a problem solver and this is a problem without a solution. At first it really freaked both of us out. Now, with more information, we are just plain perplexed. We have added a condom into the mix, because I certainly don't want to be responsible for her getting something on her mouth or other places. With her high HSV1 IGG of 50 and my high HSV2 IGG of 10, I feel like our immune systems are doing a good job keeping things suppressed I feel like I'm not going to get HSV1 since I have a better immunity. After all these years, I haven't shared HSV2 with her and she hasn't shared HSV1 with me. We should probably buy lottery tickets and try our luck. I am going to try the lottery ticket of the Western Blot and see what happens. We are going to be fine, it's a new phase, that's all. We are learning more than we wanted to know about HSV that's for sure. Thanks again for your support and I will report back with the WB when it comes back. I got my doc to write the order, I've requested a kit from UW, and there's a lab nearby that will do the bloodwork. Fingers crossed.
You should know that your hsv1 IgG could be a false neg - the test misses 30% of them. Just letting you know so that when you do the WB, it's not a total shock if it comes back pos for hsv1.
If you do have hsv2, and she doesn't, but only has hsv1, it will be very, very unlikely for you to get hsv1 after having hsv2. Hsv2 offers strong immunity against hsv1. It doesn't work the other way, though.
If you don't want to use condoms forever, and your kidneys are healthy, you might want to try taking an antiviral for suppression, if you do have hsv2. That reduces the risk the same amount as condoms do.
We can talk more about that when you get your results back, if you want.
And you have a great doc if they wrote the order for the WB. Most of the time, docs just want to say "it's absolutely positive" and move on. Kudos to your doc. :)
Keep me posted.
If you do have hsv2, and she doesn't, but only has hsv1, it will be very, very unlikely for you to get hsv1 after having hsv2. Hsv2 offers strong immunity against hsv1. It doesn't work the other way, though.
If you don't want to use condoms forever, and your kidneys are healthy, you might want to try taking an antiviral for suppression, if you do have hsv2. That reduces the risk the same amount as condoms do.
We can talk more about that when you get your results back, if you want.
And you have a great doc if they wrote the order for the WB. Most of the time, docs just want to say "it's absolutely positive" and move on. Kudos to your doc. :)
Keep me posted.
So… my wife had a few bumps show up on her labia again. Not painful, but a little itch. This time, she rushed to her ob/gyn who said, yep, that’s herpes and wrote up in her notes that it was painful lesions. My wife never said painful, but whatever. The doc also never has had a confirming test for hsv2, but positive for hsv1. My wife insisted on taking a scrape sample and the doc reluctantly did. A day later, the bumps almost disappeared. I should note that we were fooling around in the hot tub again a day or two before. My wife brought up folliculitis to the doc, but she dismissed it. I’ve seen the pictures on the internet and this does not resemble the small clusters of cauliflower lesions. I would say it was two bumps, one on each side. Perhaps a glandular thing? Anyway, we are now waiting for her test results from the scrape and my test results from the western blot. I feel like we are coming to a conclusion with these results. Either way, we are fine and I have emptied and sanitized the hot tub and will be doing so on a more regular basis!!!!
Herpes sores wouldn't disappear that quickly. I'm so glad she insisted on the testing because a visual diagnosis is not reliable.
Something on both sides could be irritation, folliculitis, an allergic reaction - a whole host of different things.
You also don't need to sanitize your hot tub just for herpes. Herpes is only transmitted by direct, unclothed skin to skin contact - kissing, oral, vaginal and anal sex, or heavy rubbing or grinding. Cleaning and sanitizing your hot tub on a regular basis is always a good idea - all kinds of funky - and sometimes serious - things can happen if you don't, but herpes (and other STIs) aren't among those.
Something on both sides could be irritation, folliculitis, an allergic reaction - a whole host of different things.
You also don't need to sanitize your hot tub just for herpes. Herpes is only transmitted by direct, unclothed skin to skin contact - kissing, oral, vaginal and anal sex, or heavy rubbing or grinding. Cleaning and sanitizing your hot tub on a regular basis is always a good idea - all kinds of funky - and sometimes serious - things can happen if you don't, but herpes (and other STIs) aren't among those.
Thank you! Her recent swab test came back negative. The doctor was convinces it was herpes and was very reluctant to test again. So my wife is looking for another gynecologist.
Good. While swabs can have false negatives, if the doctor isn't understanding that a visual diagnosis is a poor way to go in terms of herpes, she does need a new one.
Where are you in the WB?
Where are you in the WB?
Hi Jessie, i am awaiting results. UW cashed the check and its been two weeks or so. I sent the paperwork for them to release the results directly to me as well as having it sent to my physician. Id expect to hear any day now. For whaat its worth, we are already mentally prepared for a positive, but who knows? Id love to be the one person in the world who found that the zhingles vax interferes with Quests elisa test. It would potentially help a lot of people with their confusion and anguish. I understand it is a long shot but it is worth the effort. ;-)
One more interesting note. Just for fun, i crested an AI chat bot who is a virologist, microbiologist, and urologist all bundled in one. I started prompting the AI doctor with my history and it came to the same advice we have discussed here! Its amazing technology, not a replacement for a doctor, but I was impressed with the results.
The last I heard, and it's been maybe a month, UW was taking a few weeks for the tests. You can always call them and ask.
I'm not sure you'll ever know what caused the false positive, if that's what you had. It might be the shingles vax, or normal blood proteins, but in the end, just knowing is what's important.
AI chat is fun, isn't it? I'm glad I give the same advice as a virologist. :)
I'm not sure you'll ever know what caused the false positive, if that's what you had. It might be the shingles vax, or normal blood proteins, but in the end, just knowing is what's important.
AI chat is fun, isn't it? I'm glad I give the same advice as a virologist. :)
Western Blot: Hsv1 negative. Hsv2 positive. Damn. I have been asymptomatic forever. We cant figure out how it happened other than a prior relationship. It just makes no sense to me. Also, I discovered that lysine supplements should be avoided since I have had kidney stones in the past. I will rethink a suppressive therapy for my wife's sake. I feel like the wind just got punched out of me. We have been adding a condom into the mix but, you know, its somehow not the same. I understand that there may be cross reactivity between hsv1 and hsv2 antibodies so it may reduce her chances of acquiring hsv2 from me and vice versa. It might help to explain why neither of us has had an outbreak after all these years, yes? We are dealing with this but it scares me to death thinking she could possible get a nee infection from me.
Okay, I'm sorry that happened.
But you've had it this long and she's negative, right? Chances are good that she won't get it now.
And lysine hasn't been proven to reduce transmission. It hasn't even been studied for that.
Hsv2 provides strong protection against hsv1. Hsv1 provides no protection against hsv2.
How is she doing with all of it? Remember that she is an adult making her own decisions about her body. If she's not freaked out, maybe you shouldn't be either.
Is there a reason you didn't want suppressive therapy? It's way easier than a condom and having had kidney stones in the past doesn't mean you have kidney disease. A family member - much older than you - was put on acyclovir for hsv1 when she started chemo, and I asked about kidney disease (which she has) and her oncologist said unless kidney function is down in the 30 or 40% area, it's fine.
Talk to you doctor, though. You can always get kidney function tests for monitoring. Really though, this shouldn't change much in your marriage. Don't let it. It's just a virus, okay? Herpes is a lot easier to find than a really good marriage.
But you've had it this long and she's negative, right? Chances are good that she won't get it now.
And lysine hasn't been proven to reduce transmission. It hasn't even been studied for that.
Hsv2 provides strong protection against hsv1. Hsv1 provides no protection against hsv2.
How is she doing with all of it? Remember that she is an adult making her own decisions about her body. If she's not freaked out, maybe you shouldn't be either.
Is there a reason you didn't want suppressive therapy? It's way easier than a condom and having had kidney stones in the past doesn't mean you have kidney disease. A family member - much older than you - was put on acyclovir for hsv1 when she started chemo, and I asked about kidney disease (which she has) and her oncologist said unless kidney function is down in the 30 or 40% area, it's fine.
Talk to you doctor, though. You can always get kidney function tests for monitoring. Really though, this shouldn't change much in your marriage. Don't let it. It's just a virus, okay? Herpes is a lot easier to find than a really good marriage.
Best post ever. Thank you. Yes. She is hsv2 negative after all these years. We were initially very freaked out by this. But, if suppressive meds will reduce the chances of transmission as much as a condom, we should go for that. She is a beautiful person inside and out and it would devastate me if she was wearing a herpes badge on her face someday. I dont have any kidney problems but my doc was worried more about the longer run.
Okay - so first - a herpes badge? What is that?
She has hsv1. Chances are excellent that she has that orally, like up to 90% of other people over 50. Most of them never get symptoms. If she hasn't yet, chances are good that she won't ever, but if she gets cancer or something, and has to take chemo, she might. (That's why they put chemo patients on acyclovir.)
You don't have hsv1. If she has an oral outbreak, it's from HER pre-existing infection, not you. Oral hsv2 is rare.
Be careful to not buy into the stigma that exists for stupid reasons, and isn't based in reality. To be honest, and really blunt, you're way too old to do that.
As far as antivirals, they are safe long-term, but again, you could take them, and get monitored every year. I've been on Valtrex for 20 years, no issues. Many docs have the incorrect notion that they are unsafe.
I know this has been a shock to you. It's new. Just be careful to not let it get the better of you emotionally. It sounds like you have a really good marriage. Don't let a really, really common virus affect that. :)
She has hsv1. Chances are excellent that she has that orally, like up to 90% of other people over 50. Most of them never get symptoms. If she hasn't yet, chances are good that she won't ever, but if she gets cancer or something, and has to take chemo, she might. (That's why they put chemo patients on acyclovir.)
You don't have hsv1. If she has an oral outbreak, it's from HER pre-existing infection, not you. Oral hsv2 is rare.
Be careful to not buy into the stigma that exists for stupid reasons, and isn't based in reality. To be honest, and really blunt, you're way too old to do that.
As far as antivirals, they are safe long-term, but again, you could take them, and get monitored every year. I've been on Valtrex for 20 years, no issues. Many docs have the incorrect notion that they are unsafe.
I know this has been a shock to you. It's new. Just be careful to not let it get the better of you emotionally. It sounds like you have a really good marriage. Don't let a really, really common virus affect that. :)
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