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Positive culture for hsv2 and negative blood test after 5 months

I had a blister in my vagina post getting a tingly sensation for a few days. It lasted a week and I had the hsv1 and hsv2 culture done and it came back positive for hsv2. Since then I had no symptoms or outbreaks. 5 months after the culture I did a blood test for both hsv1 and hsv2 and it came back negative. To this day I haven’t had any symptoms. Do I have hsv2? I’ve been with my bf now for a year (we met a month after I found about the positive culture). I’m thinking of getting another blood test to see if there will be any antibodies just for the hell of it. He didn’t get any symptoms either this entire year. What are you thoughts?
My doctor had said that if I don’t have the antibodies and I don’t have any symptoms, that I technically do not have it and therefore it won’t be passed.
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207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
Are your blood tests IgG tests? That's important to find out. If it's an IgM test, that's the wrong test.

If they are iGg tests, then I think you should get a Western Blot test. That's a different kind of test. The hsv2 IgG misses 8% of infections, and the Western Blot will confirm the IgG, or the culture.

If you have it, it's not surprising your bf hasn't gotten it.

Ghsv2 transmission, female to male, over the course of a year, assuming sex 2-3 times a week:

Only avoiding sex during an outbreak - 4-5%

Adding condoms OR daily suppression - 2-3%

Adding condoms AND daily suppression - 1-2%

So given that if you're just avoiding sex during an outbreak (and you haven't had any), there's a 95-96% chance he wouldn't get it from you over the course of a year, if you do have it. (You don't mention if you use condoms, so for now, I'm assuming you don't.)

Your doctor is giving you strange info. If you don't have herpes, why would you have a positive culture? Is he assuming you had a false positive culture? That can happen, though it's rare. But people don't just get one herpes outbreak, and then don't have herpes.

Your doctor can order the Western Blot test. If he won't, and many aren't familiar with it, you can go through Terri Warren on her site - https://westoverheights.com/getting-a-herpes-western-blot/

So first, get copies of your lab work and blood tests, and we'll go from there. Ask your doctor for it - you have the rights to have copies of those.

Helpful - 0
4 Comments
Thank you for your response!

It was an IgG test. See below for the copied results.

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS 2 AB.IGG<0.90 0.61

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS FOR HSV-1 AND HSV-2 IgG ANTIBODY Antibody Index Result Interpretation <0.90 AI Negative No HSV-IgG antibody detected 0.90-1.09 AI Equivocal Equivocal result.

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS 1 AB.IGG<0.90 <0.01

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS FOR HSV-1 AND HSV-2 IgG ANTIBODY Antibody Index Result Interpretation <0.90 AI Negative No HSV-IgG antibody detected 0.90-1.09 AI Equivocal Equivocal result.


We were using condoms until about 7 months after we started dating, 2 months after I got the negative results. We haven’t used condoms since. We have sex about 2-3 times a week.

I’ll certainly look into the western blot test. With covid, I’m a bit hesitant to go to clinics.

So you’re saying that chances are if I got a positive culture, I do have hsv2, but just don’t have any symptoms? Even if the blood test is showing no signs of antibodies?

Thanks again!
Well, it would seem that you do have hsv2, but it is odd that you don't have antibodies, unless you are one of the 8% that gets a false negative.

False positives can happen on the culture, but that's far more unlikely.

Essentially, we don't really know yet. (I hate those answers, I'm sorry.)

Does your bf know about this? If he is aware of the confusion, and knows there might be a risk, however small, then I see no need for you to rush out and get a test done. It could wait until things settle down. That's entirely up to you and your bf.

Personally, I wouldn't run out into covid and get a herpes test if I were in a committed relationship where having it wouldn't really change much. The chances of transmission of herpes are low enough, but the chances of covid are high (depending on where you live), and if either you or your bf (or anyone else you're around) are higher risk for complications of covid, the herpes test can definitely wait.
Thank you for your response. He is aware of everything and thankfully I don’t have to feel like I am alone in this. He is understanding And supportive, but I guess we both just want to solve this puzzle as the uncertainty has been in the back of our minds. At this point it wouldn’t change anything but clarity would put things to rest on the topic. We are both very paranoid and hate the unknown, that’s all.
I totally get that. Just weigh the risks of going out where you live vs waiting. I don't know where you live - and totally don't need to - so I can't help with that, and couldn't make that decision for you even if I did.

I wish I had clearer answers for you. Herpes testing isn't always so smooth. When you figure out what to do, or have questions, let me know. I'll be here.

I'm glad you aren't alone, and that he's supportive. :) That's wonderful, but what are you paranoid about? Are there questions about herpes that I can help you with while you decide if testing right now is worth the risk?

A great resource that can help you both is the Herpes Handbook. It's written by Terri Warren, who I mentioned earlier with the Western Blot. She is one of the world's leading experts on herpes. It's free, too. https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/

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