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Negative culture and negative igm but still positive for herpes antibodies ?
I had a culture done in October and it was negative . I had blood work done this past Friday it said negavtive I was 0.82 I.V. but my doctor said I had past antibodies meaning I have herpes despite a negative culture and negative igm test can someone explain this to me can this be a mistake . I’m pregnant and devastated I won’t be able to kiss my baby on the cheek or forehead I’m guessing ? Can someone please help me out I’m confused
COMMUNITY LEADER
So that's all IgM testing. I don't see anything about IgG? As I already explained, you need an IgG test. The IgM shouldn't be done on adults, and yours isn't type specific, so it means nothing.
Ask for a type specific IgG blood test. It will give you separate results for type 1 and type 2. It won't say and/or.
Ask for a type specific IgG blood test. It will give you separate results for type 1 and type 2. It won't say and/or.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Ignore the IgM. It's supposed to detect new infections, so you'd be way beyond that date right now. It's also notoriously unreliable. Act like you didn't have that done.
Cultures also miss a lot of infections. You have to get a good sample, get it when the blisters are fresh, so to speak, and it's not always easy to do that.
What did your blood test say, exactly? You need to get the results so we can help you figure it out. It should say something along the lines of IgG hsv1 with a number, and hsv2 with a number, or it may say hsv1&2 with one number. You really need a type specific one that gives separate values for each type. If it's a combo test, with one number for hsv1&2, you don't know which type you have, or if you have both. This is important.
I'm guessing you had genital symptoms? If you only have genital herpes, of either type, you are not infectious from your mouth. This will be definite if your test result is positive for type 2 only. If you had genital symptoms, you may have type 1 genitally or type 2 genitally, which is why it's important to know which type. If you have had genital symptoms, talk to your doctor about suppressive therapy. I don't know what trimester you're in, and that's important. You can deliver vaginally as long as you don't have an outbreak. You can read more about pregnancy and herpes in the Herpes Handbook - https://westoverheights.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Updated-Herpes-Book.pdf It's free and written by Terri Warren, who is one of the world's leading experts on herpes.
If you didn't have genital symptoms, but test positive for type 1, you can assume it's an oral infection. You would still be able to kiss your baby, but if you feel any symptoms of anything on your mouth, don't kiss your baby.
Many, many women have herpes and have babies. Just make sure you are informed about the type you have and the location, and everything will be fine. Let us know about your test (there is info about testing in the handbook I linked), and we can help with that. :)
Cultures also miss a lot of infections. You have to get a good sample, get it when the blisters are fresh, so to speak, and it's not always easy to do that.
What did your blood test say, exactly? You need to get the results so we can help you figure it out. It should say something along the lines of IgG hsv1 with a number, and hsv2 with a number, or it may say hsv1&2 with one number. You really need a type specific one that gives separate values for each type. If it's a combo test, with one number for hsv1&2, you don't know which type you have, or if you have both. This is important.
I'm guessing you had genital symptoms? If you only have genital herpes, of either type, you are not infectious from your mouth. This will be definite if your test result is positive for type 2 only. If you had genital symptoms, you may have type 1 genitally or type 2 genitally, which is why it's important to know which type. If you have had genital symptoms, talk to your doctor about suppressive therapy. I don't know what trimester you're in, and that's important. You can deliver vaginally as long as you don't have an outbreak. You can read more about pregnancy and herpes in the Herpes Handbook - https://westoverheights.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Updated-Herpes-Book.pdf It's free and written by Terri Warren, who is one of the world's leading experts on herpes.
If you didn't have genital symptoms, but test positive for type 1, you can assume it's an oral infection. You would still be able to kiss your baby, but if you feel any symptoms of anything on your mouth, don't kiss your baby.
Many, many women have herpes and have babies. Just make sure you are informed about the type you have and the location, and everything will be fine. Let us know about your test (there is info about testing in the handbook I linked), and we can help with that. :)
1 Comments
It said HSV 1 and or 2 igm your value 0.82 IV and standard value <=0.89IV INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and/or 2
Antibodies, IgM by ELISA
0.89 IV or Less .......... Not Detected
0.90 - 1.09 IV ........... Indeterminate- Repeat testing in
10-14 days may be helpful.
1.10 IV or Greater ....... Detected-IgM antibody to HSV
detected, which may indicate a
current or recent infection.
However, low levels of IgM
antibodies may occasionally
persist for more than 12
months post-infection.
Antibodies, IgM by ELISA
0.89 IV or Less .......... Not Detected
0.90 - 1.09 IV ........... Indeterminate- Repeat testing in
10-14 days may be helpful.
1.10 IV or Greater ....... Detected-IgM antibody to HSV
detected, which may indicate a
current or recent infection.
However, low levels of IgM
antibodies may occasionally
persist for more than 12
months post-infection.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
