confusing results

[kent6488]

Dear Experts,

I am sorry in advance if someone had the same situation before, but I do really appreciate your advices regarding my test Herpes results. I live in AUS and I am not sure if there is a good/reliable Herpes test here.

History:
Last exposure was on 10 Jan 2015

31 Jan 15 - feeling the pain around anus/buttock

3 Feb 15 - Doctor A told me it was anal fissure and gave me cream to apply. There was no blisters/lesion on penis)

5 Feb 15 - 3 tiny blisters appeared on penis/foreskin, it seems to dry out already, started to scab (all the skin around penis head looks perfectly fine). having massive anus pain (he thinks it is anal fissure as well). Symptoms include: chill at night & weak/painful lower body. No fever and no sore throat, just feeling pain around my lower body and chill at night.

Doctor B did PCR test (Result: Specimen (Genital Swab on penis and anus), HSV1 DNA PCR: Detected, HSV2 DNA PCR: NOT Detected)


24 Feb 15 - Symptoms still appear and massive pain, Doctor C reckons is Herpes (gave me Famciclovir 2 tablets per day)

Doctor C did Herpes IGG+IGM blood test (Result: IGG/IGM positive for both HSV1 + HSV2). I consider IGG results as valid.


23 April 15 - Doctor C told me to re-do blood test to confirm my result. Penis head had rashes and red spot/lesion/paper cut, doctor think it may be due to yeast infection..so he gave me oilment to apply and told me to stop Famciclovir immediately.

Results: IGG - HSV1: positive, HSV 2: negative. Doctor C also commented that my previous HSV2 result was incorrect (human error or cross reaction something like that) and was re-confirmed by the Lab. He told me not to worry about HSV 2..


11 May 15 - Symptoms of red spot/rashes on penis head getting better (after applying oilment), went to Doctor B to re-check. I told him my HSV 2 test result/situation, and we did another blood test with another LAB/PATHOLOGY to re-confirm the conflicting results.

Results: IGG - HSV1: Negative, HSV 2: Negative.


In conclusion, I was told that I have HSV 1 for sure and get another blood test after 2 months time.

Questions:
1) If PCR picks up HSV 1 DNA, would it missed picking up HSV 2 due to the blister already dry up or the HSV 2 virus not active at that time?

2) Does the Famciclovir (roughly 1 month - sometimes I miss the dose) affect my HSV1 + HSV2 results? I did the test after 3 and 4 months. it should somehow be picking up the virus.

3) my penis skin still look weird (some lesion/cut) but the red spots have gone since I started applying oilment. Is the herpes recurrence causing this or the skin is still healing from yeast infection?



Appreciate your advices.

Thanks and best regards,
Kent

[kent6488]

Hi Life360,

Regarding the PCR test, should I be worried if the HSV2 was inactive or did not pick up by the test that time since the blisters had turned into scab?

Will the skin (around penis head) get back to normal after initial break out? It hasn't really fully healed / cleared since my first outbreak. Not sure what is the issue.

Thank you for spending your time on my issue mate.

Best regards,
Kent

[Life360_Dave]

Hi kent, whats important here is the swab cofirming hsv1 and it would pick up hsv2 also. As it stands now you would be positive for hsv1 genital and negative for hsv2. Since you did have one negative in your last test, do retest as the doctor suggests.