Time To Test With Different HSV-2 Tests

[TexasJ90]

Eight months after an unprotected sexual exposure, I tested negative with a Biokit HSV-2 rapid test. To be extra sure, I retested using what I had initially thought was the HerpeSelect HSV-2 IGG ELISA but was probably the Captia Test for HSV-2 instead since it was done at Labcorp. This was done at about 10.5 months after my last sexual contact. The test results were confirmed negative however I read the Updated Herpes Handbook at westoverheights.com and you said that studies have shown that it takes longer for this test to pick up an infection. My specific questions are:

1) Is 10.5 months ample time for the Captia test to pick up an HSV-2 infection?

2) Is the fact that my test was actually Captia and not HerpeSelect of any real significance? Are there any real differences between the two tests (e.g. accuracy/sensitivity etc) that I should be worried about besides the time it takes for the test to show up + in people who are infected with HSV-2?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

It doesn't

[TexasJ90]

My apologies I didn't quite get that out right, I meant brighter shade of pink maybe even slightly red, if that changes anything.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, my advice would not change.

Terri

[TexasJ90]

So sorry to bother you with one last question, this will really be the last one I promise.

Would your initial advice change any if I described to you any symptoms atypical for herpes in the genital area, i.e. a single area of skin on the penis a darker shade of pink than normal, non blotchy with no raises in the skin noticed once about 9-10 months after exposure? Or in this case would the two negative test results outweigh these "symptoms"?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Welcome.

Terri

[TexasJ90]

Okay gotcha. Thank you.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Focus Technologies makes the Herpeselect test.  Quest labs bought Focus.  So probably, and I'm not positive, LabCorp didn't want to use the test of their competitior, so they switched to Captia, which is also a very good test.

Terri

[TexasJ90]

Thank you Terri, I was just a little confused as to why HerpeSelcect seemed to be the big test and that you almost never hear Captia mentioned anywhere, at least on these forums. Is it just because it's a new test? As for the possibility of a false negative I'm assuming it's logical to assume that the chance two different test failed to pick up any HSV-2 infection in the same person is rather unlikely, correct?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, there is no real difference between the timing and accuracy of the two tests.  They are about the same now, and 10.5 months is most certainly enough time to be able to count on the negative results.  You can relax now!

Terri