Immunoblot test Indeterminate for HSV-1 and HSV- 2 after 16 weeks

[dyna123]

Hi everyone,

First question I'm posting here! So around Feb 8, 2018 (late that week not exactly sure) I had protected sex with a girl using a condom and oral sex with no protection. She told me later that she has genital herpes which I'm guessing is hsv-2 and not the hsv-1 strain because it is less common. I went and got the Immunoblot IgG HSV1 and HSV2 test done. I got the results today and it said it was indeterminate/abnormal I'm not to sure what to do I'm a bit anxious about this because I don't know what to take of it and what to tell my future sexual partners. I also do not have any symptoms. I wasn't given any numeric score either. Need some advice, thank you!

[auntiejessi]

I'm sorry I never followed up on your other questions. My dad died the day you posted in Aug, and I took some time off from posting in here.

I'd interpret as negative, too (though I'm not a doctor). You haven't had any symptoms, you were protected, and the chances of you getting herpes from a one-time, protected encounter are very slim. It's not something I'd worry about at all. :)

[dyna123]

I'm sorry to hear that my condolences. I kept posting just in-case other people were in the same situation as me they can have some more information. Thank you for initially commenting and following up it means a lot. My mind is at ease finally :)

[auntiejessi]

That's awesome to hear, and thanks for posting for others. That's always helpful!

Take care!

[dyna123]

Had an HSV-1/HSV-2 type blood test a little while back, they came back indeterminate. Doctor interpreted the results as negative since the there is no confirmation of HSV-1 or HSV-2 and I haven't been sexually active since I started testing myself.

[auntiejessi]

What did your test say exactly? Did it give you any numerical results?

The chances of you getting herpes from a protected one-time encounter with a female are very slim, and since you haven't had any symptoms, it's not something I'd overly worry about. You should probably retest, start with another IgG test, and go from there. I don't think you have a lot to worry about though, and think you are testing to just ease your mind.

[dyna123]

No numeric results, just said it was intederm/abnormal because I fell out of reference range. It did mention how %5 of healthy individuals will have results outside of reference range. It's just I was testing  16 weeks after my exposure so I thought I'd be negative if I didn't have it (given enough time for antibodies to form). The female was using an anti-viral as well. Maybe there was some error in testing? Your answer does put my mind at ease and I did get a requisition for another immunoblot IgG test I will probably do 4-6 weeks from now.

[auntiejessi]

I've never seen an "abnormal" result, though "indeterminate" is quite common. It could be an error with test, for sure. Let us know when you get your next results back.

[dyna123]

I had another HSV IgG test this time to check for HSV antibodies and not the specific strain (there was an issue with the bloodwork form so had to get this instead) and it came back as indeterminate as well. I was told I can have a variant of the HSV virus that could be tripping the results not sure what this means. I am going to get another test which tests for the specific strains HSV-1 and HSV-2 again (since this is what the doctor initially wanted). Do you think that I probably don't HSV-2? I never had symptoms of hsv-2, just a pimple or 2 on my groin area I could get checked, but no blisters,sores or any unpleasant feeling associated with it.

[dyna123]

bump

[dyna123]

Just to add I got the test done June 12 2018.