Low Positive but told positive no matter what

[hugo313]

I got results back from an HSV 1 & 2 (igg)test last week.  Results came back negative for HSV 1, but positive for HSV 2 (score of 2.4).  I retested a couple days ago at LabCorps through STDtesting.com (herpeselect HSV 1 &2 igg test).  I just received the scores---HSV 1--negative; and HSV 2 (score of 1.47).  Note:  I do not have any symptoms and use condoms regularly.  I asked the doctor via the testing service about false positives--especially if the scores were below 3.5.  I told him I've researched the matter and heard that it was worth retesting.  He was immediately dismissive of "whatever I read" on the internet.  He said my score might fluxuate--but if I've tested positive...I would always be positive---even if I retested.  He was also saying that even though i don't have symptoms--i could probably have them later in life.  He said that people who don't have symptoms have really strong immune systems, meditate, or have acquired strong immune systems from family.  

Anyways--would appreciate your thoughts on how to proceed (or if I should give up).  Also--is it unusual for my score to go from 2.4 to 1.47 within a week?  Is there any signficance to that?

[gracefromHHP]

actually it's not "whatever you read on the internet" , it's the 2010 cdc herpes testing guidelines. Encourage your provider to better educate himself!!!  the false positive issues are well known enough that your provider not following up on this properly is actually grounds for a malpractice suit.

definitely your results are low enough to make it worth pursing a herpes WB blood test. If your provider uses quest labs, it's test #34534 ( it's a send out so your local quest lab might initially be confused ).   Make sure it's been at least 4 months after the last time you had sex prior to testing though. do you have a regular partner?

whether or not you have obvious symptoms or not has little to do with your immune system actually, it's more so in your genes and also being educated what to look for.

grace

[hugo313]

Thanks for your quick reply.  Just as a follow-up--any signficance to the drop in score within a week?  I'll look into WB.

[gracefromHHP]

you had 2 different tests done at 2 different labs - can't even begin to compare the results.

[hugo313]

With all the stats and studies on false pos...and it seems like the issue has been around for years....why don't they change the thresholds?  Or at least require confirmation testing before giving a verdict? Again, thanks for your input.  Btw...I went to a clinic yesterday and they were familiar with WB but they were thinking it was the HSV II elisa test.  They looked up the numbers in the Quest book, but couldn't come up with the referenced number(I noted that number from someone else's post).  The WB is different from the Elisa...right?

[gracefromHHP]

yes, the WB is different from the ELISA.  Tell your local quest lab to call the quest lab in portlant oregan if they are stumped.

[hugo313]

So I have a little bit of news to share....
I got a call from my doctor today.  I had originally thought that they ordered an HSV II Elisa/Inhibition test because the clinic could not find the WB in the Quest Labs book.   They also drew my blood at the clinic. To my surprise--according to my report--they did get the WB test done and here are my results:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: All result statuses are Final unless otherwise noted.

Tests: (1) HSV WESTERN BLOT (HSWB) (34534SB=)
! HSV WB SPECIMEN           SERUM                                        *1
! HSV WB RESULT             SEE BELOW                                    *2
    NEGATIVE FOR ANTIBODY TO HSV-1 AND HSV-2 BY WESTERN BLOT.
! HSV WB INTERPRETATION
                            SEE BELOW                                    *3
    NO EVIDENCE OF PAST INFECTION WITH HSV-1 OR HSV-2.
    
    THIS TEST WAS DEVELOPED AND ITS PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
    DETERMINED BY UW MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF LABORATORY MEDICINE. IT HAS
    NOT BEEN CLEARED OR APPROVED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG
    ADMINISTRATION.

Note: An exclamation mark (!) indicates a result that was not dispersed into the flowsheet.

Lab site: FZ, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    1959 NE Pacific St Rm Nw220
    Seattle  WA  98195-0001

-------------------------------------------------------
So can i rely on this as being clean for HSV (1&2)?  

[gracefromHHP]

congrats!!!!