My test results for herpes came back negative but I'm still questioning it...

[ChicagoGuy1986]

3 days after I had oral sex with a new partner, I came down with a serious illness. I had severe tonsillitis, swollen lymph nodes in my neck and a moderate fever that fluctuated quite a bit, the highest I measured it at was 102.5. I couldn't eat, drink or speak without much pain. I went to the doctor, they gave me anti-biotics and a step test which came back negative. This gave me cause for concern since I had read on the internet that if someone gets herpes, often times, the symptoms I had occurred shortly after infection. I decided to get tested for a full range of STD's just to be on the safe side. When I got to the doctor the day of the test, 10 days after the sexual encounter, I told her why I think I might have been infected. I had a few small pimples at the base of my penis and a few in my pubic area. The doctor said that most likely this was just hair follicle pimples or maybe some other irritant which caused the pimples, as they had a white cap not a clear blister appearance, but she was fine with me getting tested anyway. So my results came back and it was negative for everything. As far as I can tell, these are the two tests they gave me: HSV 1/2 IGG, Herpesselect type specific AB and HSV IGM Antibody w/refl titer. Both of which came back Negative. My HerpesSelect test was <0.90 for both 1 and 2 and the IGM Antibody test came back with a result of "Not Detected". The Herpes Select test says that in suspected early cases the test should be repeated in 4-6 weeks, however from what I understand IGM antibodies are created by the body shortly after infection, so perhaps another Herpes Select test would not be needed. Furthermore, I got another pimple on the shaft of my penis today, which gives me cause for concern.

1. Should I still be concerned that I might be infected?

2. Should I go back for another test in 4-6 weeks?

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/248394  is a prior post on why the herpes igm blood test isn't worthwhile for diagnosing newly acquired herpes infections. Your igm was negative anyways but this is a fyi thing for future reference to you.

The best course of action would've been to have gotten a lesion culture of your throat when you had symptoms. At this point you can wait and repeat your blood test in a few months ( I recommend 4 because odds are the lab you are using isn't really doing the herpeselect since they are also doing igm testing and non-herpeselect tests take longer to be most accurate ).  

I'm sure you also were kissing the partner you had oral sex with? Lots of viral illnesses that aren't herpes that can also be transmitted by doing that.  At this point impossible to say what caused your original oral symptoms. The provider you saw didn't think your genital symptoms were herpetic looking either so no real reason to suspect otherwise.

grace

[treesnake]

3-4 months for the tests from the exposure!!