Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

"Protein in blood" tripping up HSV low positives

This is a continuation from another thread, as recommended by the poster @auntjessie.

I continue to look around the internet for better explanations on what this "protein" in the blood might be. Others have postulated that it might be an autoantibody protein, so I browsed around:

Through research exploration, I've found research papers like this one: 
Misaki Y, Yamamoto K, Yanagi K, Miura H, Ichijo H, Kato T, et al. “B cell epitope on the U1 snRNP-C autoantigen contains a sequence similar to that of the herpes simplex virus protein.” 

I've also found comments like this within other research:
LG Fradkin 2016 “Here, we review evidence that such large RNPs employ an endogenous NE-budding pathway, previously thought to be exclusive to the nuclear egress of Herpes viruses.

I've sent this information to the University of Washington Virology lab, but they've got a COVID-19 focus at the moment, of course.

I don't pretend that the RNP protein is, in fact, the protein people like Terri Warren (and others) mention trip up some of the HSV tests. Who really knows. But, since the supposed percentages are so wild for low positives, it seems strange there isn't more information out there.

If I had to ask the experts here a specific question about it, it'd be "what mechanism does the Western Blot use that allows it to rule out this mysterious protein and unearth so many false positives, while the automated tests *cause* so many false positives?"

Thanks for any commentary or perspective.
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm very sorry that I missed your first question.

First, let me give you some info that addresses your first question - chances are really good this is a false positive, as you know.

I am not a scientist, nor have I ever dug deep enough into the various reasons why people have false positives to be able to answer this question at the level you desire. I can say that the WB is a different type of test, and is used for confirmation, and is considered the gold standard.

Even though the Univ of Washington is focusing on Covid right now, they are still doing the herpes WB. You can work with Terri Warren to get one, or your own doctor.

I would also urge you to maybe not focus so much on why this happens, though it's important to scientists, but instead focus on why you are so phobic of herpes - in your words from your other post, "irrationally phobic". Is anxiety a big issue for you? That's something you should focus on. I understand the need to know WHY. Maybe you can focus on the why of your anxiety and get some help for it.

False positives are a fairly big problem with herpes tests, and that you test so often, it was bound to happen to you. This forum is loaded with people who've had false positives and are negative. If you are aware of Terri Warren, you've already been researching a lot. My suggestion is to stop researching, get the WB, along with some therapy. I say that with absolute compassion, not any criticism.
Helpful - 0
4 Comments
Thanks for your response, auntijessie. I'm a researcher, so I tend to focus on the "why," the methodologies, etc. I have a love of and deep appreciation for science. I didn't necessarily expect a direct answer on the RNP antibody topic. It was worth a shot in case anyone had run across it or observed a coincidence with their case.

As for your question regarding my admitted phobia (from the previous post), I appreciate your suggestion. No, I'm not ordinarily an anxious person. In a bizarre way, the opposite, actually. One of the very few exceptions has been this topic (herpes). And, that has been frustrating to me, of course. It's not necessarily because of shame or stigma. I don't judge anyone who's contracted the virus. I guess the uncertainty around the topic and the misinformation (some of which comes from docs themselves) adds to that phobia/anxiety. It's really strange to me that people on message boards seem to have more updated information than many health professionals. When you add in shaky diagnostic testing, it may very well be a "control" thing. Who knows. I'm aware of it and ll work at it. Again, thank you for the sensical suggestion.

I'm sure I "speak" for everyone who's grateful for your contribution to help those of us on this forum looking for any clarity.
It makes perfect sense that you are a researcher lol, and I mean that in a good way.

" It's really strange to me that people on message boards seem to have more updated information than many health professionals." - I have several minor, yet annoying, health conditions, including herpes. I have found, without fail, that patients know more than doctors.

Herpes has a few great professionals who I trust without fail - Terri Warren is definitely one - but as far as local doctors you may go to? Yeah, not really. Sometimes you get lucky. I call it lucky if you have symptoms and they actually do a typed culture, or if they order the correct blood tests. If you don't have symptoms, I call it lucky if they order the correct, quantitative blood tests. Beyond that, I expect nothing. Most don't know about false positives, not to run the IgM, etc.

It must be hard as a researcher to not get all the answers. Some of it we just don't have. Most of it is definitely unsatisfactory. Researchers do probably have a need for some sense of control, which I understand. Some of my other conditions put me at higher risk for complications from covid, and I have researched that just to death. It definitely helps me feel a sense of control.


Hang in there, and let me know what you decide to do.
Hey, @auntijessie. I can only assume how ridiculous this might seem.  After that initial bloodwork and test I did at a random "Spa," I received a low positive and, as you know, freaked. I spent two weeks in somewhat disbelief... and distraught. I re-tested this week - 11.5 weeks after last sexual exposure. Except this time at an actual Lab (Quest) via my doctor's order. I just received my results.  <0.90 for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Apparently, negative on both,  which matches what I had received on every previous test. I'd never had a symptom or outbreak, and had tested just because of my admitted "phobia." It's jarring to experience the unreliable nature of testing.

In the two weeks since that initial report, I read just about everything re: HSV. I even dug into the research, which I hope helps someone at some point. This process has completely changed my perspective and I wanted to tell you, again, that people like you are doing special work (in contributing to forums like this). Without a forum like this, I'm not sure what I would have done during all the misinformation and medical ignorance I encountered. Having a place to collect information, analyze the possibilities, and be given experienced, cogent advice is a godsend. Bless you.
I'd be interested in the "why" of this as well. I'm also a scientist (at the FDA, in fact, though I don't work on diagnostic devices like these tests), and I recently went through a scare with a false positive during a screening in an annual exam. If you do find anything on this, please do post it. I was fairly surprised this week to get the full Western Blot report and see that I was negative for HSV1, since I assumed a positive on that would account for the false positive HSV2 test. I don't seem to have autoimmune issues, though they run in my family. My mom has a number of autoimmune disorders and my sisters seem to also have problems.
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.