Igg Low positive - no symptoms

[anonmale1111]

Hi Grace,

I am 25 yr old male in a 4 year committed relationship. In May I had my first full STD tst - everything negative except for HSV 2.

My HSV I Igg was negative at around .8
HSV ll igg was low positive at 2.4

My doctor suggested a retest - same test. This was just two weeks after the initial testing.

The results of this test were HSV ll at igg 2.14.

I have never had any symptoms whatsoever. Neither has my girlfriend of 4 years. We have unprotected sex daily.  I've only been with a few other women before my current GF. This was YEARS ago (high school, early college) and my unprotected exposure was very limited.

My question is this: what is your initial feeling on my current situation. Do you believe this could be a false positive result?

I know you will recommend me to be confirmed by a WB. My doctor never heard of this test so I am a little unsure on how to have that done. I do not want to speak with my girlfriend about this until I know for sure.

I am having genitally focused anxiety (I'm pretty much a hypochondriac) so you can imagine I'd like to take steps toward resolving this as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help and advice.

[ehbeedub]

The closer the score is to 1 the more likely it is to be falsely positive; the closer to 3.5, the more likely to be truly positive. You land right in the middle.

There is a study somewhere that gives percentages of the likelihood of a false positive at that number, but I don't have it handy.

There's no point in trying to analyze it, though -- all you can do is get the Western Blot.

[anonmale1111]

I guess my final question to you concerns what you said about "where it is on this scale". How do my 2.4 and 2.14 scores fair in regards to % chance being false positive? Is the fact that these scores are so close in number more indicative of a false positive due to something in my blood triggering these numbers?

Thanks again, and sorry to nag.

[ehbeedub]

Yes, Grace still posts regularly, she just doesn't hit every post every day, necessarily.

It is possible that neither of you showed symptoms, but your number is definitely in need of confirmation. We aren't really sure what causes the false-positive number, just that anything below 3.5 stands a decent chance (varying based on where it is on that scale) of being falsely positive.

[anonmale1111]

Thank you for your response. I most likely will get the WB test. I'm trying to be very practical about the situation. I truly feel this a case of false positive testing. I find it difficult to believe my girlfriend and I would both have absolutely no symptoms through 4 years of unprotected sex.

I'm just confused at what can cause an inaccurate IGG result around the same number, twice in quick succession. I've had chicken pox and mono and Im wondering if that can trigger a low positive.

Does Grace still reply in these forums (I know It hasn't even been a day - I'm just wondering)

[ehbeedub]

Based on the sexual history that you describe, and your/your girlfriend's lack of symptoms, it seems likely that this is a false positive, but the only way to know for certain is to have the Western Blot done. It's relatively easy to get it done -- just become a phone patient of Terri Warren at Westover Heights clinic (Google it) and she will have the test sent to a lab near you, who will draw the blood and send the sample to UW. I believe the cost of the test is around $160, but is definitely worth it for the peace of mind.

[anonmale1111]

I should also mention my current girlfriend has only been with me.