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confusing results

My HepersSelect tests were negative for both types at 7 and 11 weeks. At 15 weeks it showed a 3.6 for HSV1. A 16 week western blot was negative and now the current (about 8 month) western blot is indeterminate.

The report said “low level antibody detected by Western blot assay. Indeterminate for HSV. No antibody to HSV2 detected by Western Blot assay. Atypical reactivity was noted against proteins on the HSV1 western blot. This reactivity may or may not be due to HSV specific antibody. Full antibody profiles to HSV may take 12-16 weeks especially if antiviral therapy was given.”

Has anyone else had an indeterminate western blot for HSV1 and what was the outcome?  Are indeterminate western blot tests more likely to be positive or negative with repeated tests?
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101028 tn?1419603004
it does sound like the proverbial can of worms you opened :(

at this point why not just wait and if you get new symptoms either orally or genitally, be seen promptly for lesion cultures instead of more blood tests?

grace
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Avatar universal
"Even if the test is repeated and found to be positive I still won't know." (where the infection is oral, genital or both)
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Avatar universal
I had a suspicious bump on my penis. My PCP did not think it was herpes. Healed too soon (gone in less than 2 days, never really formed a sore or scab,) but I insisted on a repeated western blot (I should have listened to him and not had the test.) Now I don’t know if I should leave well enough alone and assume I have it, assume I don’t, or have repeated testing. Nurse Warren suggested that my tests (first and second WB) could be compared and this might clear things up or the test could be re -performed with the original sample and the new sample together. My concern is I don’t know if my infection (if I have it) is oral or genital since my exposure included kissing and protected oral sex, although, she did kiss and lick my scrotum. This was a “one night stand” if you will and I don’t have any way of contacting her to see if she is has herpes. Even if the test is repeated and found to be positive I still won't know. So am an not sure what I will gain with a repeated test or a conclusive answer.


The only lesions of real concern occurred about 8 weeks past exposure on the inside of my lip. My ENT thought herpes, my periodontist thought canker sores and the PCR swab was negative for HSV 1 and 2.


Is an indeterminate finding rare on the western blot and when they are sorted out do they tend to be negative or positive? Or is this known? At least I am sure it is not HSV2. If it is HSV1 and it is genital, what can I expect in terms of outbreaks, chance of spreading etc.?
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101028 tn?1419603004
why did you repeat the WB after having a negative one at 4 months?

grace
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