HSV RESULTS

[EK7407]

I am a 26yr old women w/very limited sexual contact (6 partners>5monogomas my 1st cheated). My current partner is the only partner in which I have never used a condom with. I have never had any vaginal problems until this June in which my pap came back abnormal due to HPV59. I was biopsied & will repap in Oct.

My partner of 6mos recently told me the girl he dated prior to me had HSV2. She had been w/him for 2mos before she told him & only did b/c they had unprotected sex while she had an outbrake. He went to a local clinic & was blood tested 1wk after exposure. The test was NOT type specific & only read negative(late Feb 2007). He has not had any symptoms.

I got tested & these are my results:

HERPISELECT     HSV1\\T\\2  IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB
Type1 0.67                         Type 2     1.10
<0.90 NEG      0.90-1.10 Equivicol            >1.10 Positive

My Dr. said that it was Equivicol & that I had nothing to worry about. I had been exposed but did not have it (not really sure how that works?) & therefore had developed antibodies against it. She said it was likely that my immune sys fought it.  She said not to worry unless I ever saw any symptoms. The response I got just hasn't sat well w/me & my partner is stressed b/c he was told a@ the clinic that he would ABSOLUTELY test positive within a week of exposure if he got it. So Doc, please help!

1) Is one week of exposure enough time to appear with accurate response on blood test? Should my partner retest ASAP w/a specific test?
2) What does my Equivicol likely mean? false positive? Does a low number mean that I was recently exposed? or that has been in my system possibly for years and they are antibodies? (My Dr said this could be a possibility b/c I've never showed symptoms). IF so please explain a little about antibodies. Is this related to my pap?
3) Should we be doing anything differently when engaging in intercourse?
4) If he is neg could my Equivicol level be enough pass to him?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No.

[EK7407]

Thank you doctor. Again, this has put an incredible stress on me and your clear response has helped put my mind at ease.

My Equivicol results you would say had nothing to do with my abnormal pap?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

In this circumstance, I suggest waiting the full 3 months.  Or just drop the whole thing. It's not an issue, based on your test result.

[jda123]

If one week is too soon, when do you consider the test reasonably reliable?  I know 3 months is the 100% assurance mark.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  Your doctor is right.  Neither you nor your partner has HSV-2.

First, your partner does not have HSV-2.  Th problem with the non-type specific blood tests is that, if positve, they do not distinguish between HSV-1 and 2.  But a negative is reliably negative.  He has never been infected with either

Second, most results with the very borderline result you show are truly negative.  Frankly, I don't even think repeat testing is necessary in this situation. But if you were to be retested with HerpeSelect, most likely it would be truly negative.  Or have a BiokitUSA test, which you can expect would be negative.

1) One week is too soon.  If your partner acquired HSV-2 the last time he had sex with his former partner, he could have been infected and the test wouldn't show it.  But based on your results, there is no reason to suspect he is infected.

2) Your equivocal result probably means nothing.

3) Of course I never guarantee someone isn't infected with any STD.  But from a herpes perspective, I see no reason you and your partner cannot safely have unprotected intercourse.

4) No.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD