Positive hsv 1/11 IGM combination ...

[bkbkgirl]

Every year I get screened for stds.  For the past 2 years my hsv 1/11 igm combination has been negative but I tested positive for hsv 1 IGG.  Hsv 11 IGG has always been negative.

Today my doctor called and said my HSV 1/11 IGM combination was positive but still HSV  1 IGG and HSV 11 IGG remain negative. The doctor said the igm could be elevated because since I'm positive for hsv 1 it could cause shedding and show " reactivation " even though I have no symptoms. My question is, is the doctor right? Or could I have been exposed to hsv 11 and the igg antibodies didn't produce yet? I have had protected sex twice in the last year. Most recent  was about 2 months ago. Please help in interpreting

[feelingundone]

Disregard. You get tested yearly for std's and clearly you didn't have an outbreak. The low odds of contraction, lack of symptoms and tbe high rate of false igm positives makes hsv extremely unlikely. Do that being said just continue with your yearly checkups.

[bkbkgirl]

I was reading a bunch of the posts about IGM and a lot of people were told to go get retested but for IGG only if they had sex within 4 months. I had protected sex 1 time about 4 weeks ago. Should I get retested? Or totally disregard the igm like you stated?

[bkbkgirl]

Thank you very much

[feelingundone]

The CDC does not recommend due to the vast numbers of fasle positives. Please don't put much thought into the poditive and you being exposed. Instead disregard the results altogether. I deal with this atleast twice a week. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about

[bkbkgirl]

Thanks. They didn't want to do it but I think it's how the lab has the labs combined. If I was exposed 2 months ago would I have shown IGG antibodies already? I've never had any symptoms of herpes( cold sores or genital) so it worried me that maybe I could be exposed. Like I mentioned I have been positive for hsv1 for years so is it likely why it's positive?

Also, I was reading that this antibody(igm) could cross react with other herpes viruses like chicken pox and could cause a false positive.

And also , why does the cdl no longer recommend ?

[feelingundone]

Your Dr is kind of correct as igm can be positive at anytime from having hsv. That being said the rest of your Dr's explanation was off the mark. So is testing with igm. No one should ever get an igm test for hsv. They are worthless and even the CDC says not to test with igm. Either way it's business as usual for you and do not worty about your igm test results. Next year do not get the igm