Testing Confusion

[SpaceC]

Hello, Mrs. Warren,

I have been reading your forum for a long time. It is very helpful.

Here is my story.
I tested positive ( it was 1,3 I think, over 1,1 is considered positive) on a combined (HSV 1 and 2 together) IgG ELISA antibody test. I redid it. The result was the same. Then I did a PCR of saliva in the herpes centre (in Russia). Positive 30% (not really sure what it means). The doctor from this centre told me I definitely have HSV (it was not specified which one). I went to the homeopathic doctor in the same centre, showed her my results and she did a test on a machine (it is called Voll diagnostik and measures electric impulses in the body). She said I had oral herpes. I decided to find out my type.

And there the confusion began:

ELISA IgG HSV1 0,02;   IgG HSV2 =0.0 , both clearly negative.

I waited and redid my tests in Germany where I was at the time. HSV1 negative (no numbers).

Months later in a German viral centre (ELISA IgG) HSV1 negative, HSV combined also negative! The doctor there thinks I am herpes-free, although I told him the whole story.

So I have 3 negative HSV1 IgG tests, 2 positive and 1 (the latest) negative combined IgG tests, 1 positive saliva PCR DNA ( hope I am not mistaken) test, and positive diagnosis from the homeopathic doctor.

I would highly appreciate your opinion on what is going on.

                     Thank you very much.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I posted a response, but it seems to have gone away!

I would dismiss both the homeopathic response as this is not an approved diagnostic method, not by a long shot,  and perhaps the PCR, although I'm not at all clear about what was done - PCR's that I know about don't have percentage values, they are either positive or negative and they do report out types, so not sure what happened there.  

I would tend to believe the HSV antibody tests that you have had done.  However, the HSV 1 test that you had done is not as sensitive as the herpes western blot test to detect HSV 1 infection.  YOu might want to have that done in the US when you get a chance.  The test code with Quest labs is 34534, they will send it to the University of Washington for you, the only place in the US that offers this test.

Let me know how this turns out, OK?

Terri

[SpaceC]

Additional information:
I never had any cold sores in my whole life.