Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Negative blood and culture for Herpes Simplex, HIV

My time line: unprotected sex with 3 people in March, April, May, June. 1st outbreak 6/26-- very itchy white blisters on vulva minora and anus that bursted and bled. Culture only found candida albicans. Then, about 2 months later on 8/22 I had the same symptoms again-- Itchy and swollen vulva minora with one white fluid filled blister that popped and bled.
Results on 8/27
HIV1/2 EIA AB SCREEN-- Nonreactive (nonreactive).
HSV1G   0.09     HSV2GG   .16  
Herpes simplex Isolation/culture: 00/00/ null   null

Questions: Did I wait long enough to take the tests to give me accurate results? I took herpes and HIV tests 6 months max or 3 months min since first exposure to herpes simpex and HIV. Can negative results be misleading? Are the herpes and HIV tests most accurate after a certain amount of time since the infection OR exposure?

No one will give me a flat out answer. Is there a chance that I will get positive results for these viruses when I go back to do bloodwork in 4-16 weeks? Could I be at the herpes simplex stage? Also why do I have values for HSV1G and HSV2GG... could these values go up?
29 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
101028 tn?1419603004
glad you are getting answers to move forward with this :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I got blood drawn for an IGG HSV 1 and 2 test just to be safe. Both came back negative! WOOO! Negative after 8 months. I definitely DO NOT have herpes my gyno told me. She did a visual exam today and said I look very healthy. I am just experiencing normal female discomfort/ im getting older, im in my early 20s. And since Ive been scared of herpes.. that has made it worse. Thank you for your help Grace. It really means a lot to me.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
Be seen every time you have symptoms.  not likely this is a herpes issue .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In october, november, december and january for one week at a time (per month) I've had discomfort on the left side of my labia. Its not topical pain, it feels like its coming from under the layer of skin. No lesions, no blisters. I cant even describe the discomfort. Its not itchy, does not burn. It's not extremely painful. its just that i feel the presence of my vagina: left side labia. Sometimes the symptoms are accompanied by mucas-like discharge. I have a gyno appt next week but I assume she wont be able to help me. Should I retest for herpes?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
I'd continue to follow up regularly with your providers for your symptoms. this doesn't sound like oral herpes as  cause of your symptoms.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went to a dermatologist and showed her pictures of the 'zit' that was at the corner of my mouth. She said "absolutely not herpes." And I have a little red mark on the top of my lip that I never had. The dermatologist diagnosed it as a condition I forget the name of, but the definition is lip discoloration. But I have been feeling consistent burning and tingling at the top of my lip.. I'm very concerned about this, but I fee like its atypical. The burning and tingling comes randomly for 4-10 seconds,throughout the day for months! Should I get blood drawn again?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The dry skin surrounding the 'zit' ?? I popped at the corner of my lip is just dry skin ashy color and red. It is not yellow.. doesn't look infected.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is this oral herpes? Ok, now I'm freaking out again. approximately 1.5 mm away from the corner of my lip, I had what felt like a deep zit. So I popped it and hard, white puss came out. There wasn't a lot of puss. And it felt like popping any zit. the next day, the skin is just red and kinda dry.I like in new england and its cold. Additionally, the 'peaks' of my cupids bow (lips) have felt like they burn and are irritated a little. but i don't know if this is just in my head because I have been feeling this sporadically for 3 months straight. I feel like when I read that burning upper lips was a symptom of oral herpes, I began to feel it. The area is Not painful at all.. does not feel like there is puss in there. I'm going to a dermatologist on wednesday. But would like some knowledge on the situation. No blister or typical herpetic blister as of late. Thanks. Hope you had a nice thanksgiving.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
no, that doesn't sound like oral herpes. don't scratch at it!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a little whitish blob, (not a particular shape, size: smaller than 1mm) next to a pin needle size red dot on my inner upper lip (moist part). I scratched off the white part easily, looked like dead skin. When I close my lips, the red dot rests on the bottom of my lateral incisor (tooth next to big front tooth). No sore throat I feel completely fine except that the dot stings a little. Does that sound like oral herpes? and btw my vagina has not felt bad at all today, yay.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I understand that there just may not be an easy explanation for my symptoms. But I'd like to make a correction on my thread, on August 22, my symptoms were-- Itchy and swollen vulva minora with one circular ulcer that had white fluid (new skin?) inside. It was the size of a hole punch. As it healed, it got a little smaller and I was left with a little "dip" in the skin. I never saw it as a blister that looked like a pimple, it was flat. Like this sign (  a colon laying on its round side. Should that still concern me. Or could something like that happen for a number of reasons?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
herpes pain would be constant, not just a few hours out of the day.

continue to follow up with your gyn as needed for your symptoms.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The BV came back negative, doc says it's possible that she didn't get a good sample? The yeast is negative. So I have no idea why my vagina has been irritated for the last 5 days 9am-6pm. No lesions, no sores. The irritation isn't unbearable.. but it does not escape my mind. I am a smoker, don't have the best diet. Possible that this is psychological? Grace, do you really think it's not herpes, how come? And thank you so much for responding to me.. it means so much to me. I'm so thankful for you.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
no reason to still be thinking herpes at this point.  hopefully your vaginitis results all come back soon so you know what is going on to treat it. sucks when your nether regions are reminding you that they are there all day long :(  

you can try using dermoplast spray ( the blue can for the genital area, not the red can ) while you are waiting for results. it's a topical anesthetic you can spray on a few times a day to help with that burning sensation so you feel more comfortable during the day.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I got negative results for IGG1&2 and igM October 18th (4 months 18 days after possible exposure/infection). I went to a gynecologist Oct 30th because I was a little itchy down there and she did a PCR swab of my vagina for "good measure" which came back negative. On monday NOV 12th, I woke up and my vagina was burning really bad, swollen and red and there was white clumpy discharge so I went to the doctors that day. She did a yeast culture (her visual diagnosis was yeast infection) and she also did a BV culture. The yeast came back negative and I'm still waiting for the BV results. I'm extremely worried. I've been on crotch watch 3 times a day since monday and no sores/lesions have showed up. What could this be if not yeast? what if BV is neg too? I'm not itchy. my vulva burns and is sore (not related to urination.. does not burn more after peeing). I get relief 8pm-9am and then the symptoms come back 9am-6pm. Please help, thank you.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
congrats! glad you are finally getting answers :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I got my results back. My doctor called me and said all my tests were negative!!!!!!!!!! And she said my values were extremely low (not close to being pos) Doctor said, we don't know what it was, but it's not herpes. What do you think? Doctor said I better put this behind me now.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
herpes cultures only look for herpes, nothing else.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok so let's say my igM is positive and my igG is negative for both HSV 1 and 2. I just really want to know how to determine what the results mean. Should I disregard the igM? Also maybe you know the answer to this question: Does a  "CULTURE, HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS, RAPID METHOD. HERPES ISOLATION/CULTURE" only look for herpes, or would the test have picked up any other organisms? Such as yeast for example. My result for this was NONE ISOLATED.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
many providers just aren't properly educated on herpes testing and draw igm tests.  

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is it odd for the first outbreak to be about 3-7 months after possible exposure? And one of the people I had sex with is from outside the country... does that mean anything?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So, its october and I had my blood drawn yesterday to be tested for Herpes 1 and 2. They are doing an igG and igM test. I'm wondering why they decided to also do an igM test?? It has been 4 months and 13 days since most recent possible exposure. OR I could have been exposed approximately 7 months or 5 months ago.It has been approximately 4 months since what I thought was a herpetic infection. The doctor said what I had in june was most likely a yeast infection (I am convinced they didn't do proper testing. They only gave a visual diagnosis) and what I had in August was more suggestive or herpes.

If I'm positive, I guess I might be one of those people who take extremely long to make antibodies?

I was reading a post from a young woman on the expert forum. She kind of described what I was experiencing in terms of symptoms. The expert asked if she was Jewish because he suspected she might have familial mediterranean fever?

The doctor asked if I got these infections (june and august) when I was under a lot of stress. The answer is yes, I was extremely stressed before getting these symptoms.

The doctor also asked if I felt tingling when I had the infections. The answer is no, I don't think so. It was just itchy, not numb. Why did she ask me this?


Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
continue to be seen every single time you have symptoms for further evaluation.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had the "igg" HSV1 and 2 blood work. I got the values:
HSV1G   0.09     HSV2GG   .16   <.90
and a culture: Herpes simplex Isolation/culture: 00/00/ null   null

I had these tests done about 3 months after my last sexual activity. and 2 months after a suspicious outbreak/ a week after another reoccurrence of these symptoms.

They came back negative. But my symptoms make me believe that I have herpes. * correction the lesion was on my labia minora.

What is it?
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.