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Herpes IgM Test positive 3.44
I got an unprotected hand job and protect blowjob a week before the test. The results are stressing me out with such a high reading. My Igg is still 0.68. I have no symptoms currently. Is this accurate?
COMMUNITY LEADER
The IgM is a terrible test for herpes.
It is as wrong at least as often as it is right. It shouldn't be done on adults at all, and can cross react with other herpes viruses, like chicken pox. It also doesn't differentiate well between hsv1 and 2, so if you have a pre-existing hsv1 infection, that might give you a false positive.
http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/herpes-testing/
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/07/order-herpes-igm-blood-test.html
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
"IgM (a different kind of antibody) tests do not accurately distinguish between the types of virus nor can they accurately tell a new infection from an old one. IgM tests also may pick up other herpes viruses, like chicken pox or mono virus." (pg 11)
https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/herpes.htm -
"IgM testing for HSV 1 or HSV-2 is not useful, because IgM tests are not type-specific and might be positive during recurrent genital or oral episodes of herpes (337)."
So for now, act like you didn't even have the test. The chances of you getting herpes from a protected blow job (and it would be genital herpes type 1 from receiving oral sex) are very low, especially if your partner had no outbreaks at the time.
Are you having symptoms?
It can take up to 4 months to develop antibodies, though most will by 6 weeks, so if you are that concerned, test again at 6 weeks with a type specific IgG test. If you don't get symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it.
IgM tests for other things work as they are supposed to, but for herpes, ignore it entirely. Mine was negative when it should have been positive, and positive when it should have been negative. I'm not saying you don't have it - just that your IgM can't determine that.
It is as wrong at least as often as it is right. It shouldn't be done on adults at all, and can cross react with other herpes viruses, like chicken pox. It also doesn't differentiate well between hsv1 and 2, so if you have a pre-existing hsv1 infection, that might give you a false positive.
http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/herpes-testing/
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/07/order-herpes-igm-blood-test.html
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
"IgM (a different kind of antibody) tests do not accurately distinguish between the types of virus nor can they accurately tell a new infection from an old one. IgM tests also may pick up other herpes viruses, like chicken pox or mono virus." (pg 11)
https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/herpes.htm -
"IgM testing for HSV 1 or HSV-2 is not useful, because IgM tests are not type-specific and might be positive during recurrent genital or oral episodes of herpes (337)."
So for now, act like you didn't even have the test. The chances of you getting herpes from a protected blow job (and it would be genital herpes type 1 from receiving oral sex) are very low, especially if your partner had no outbreaks at the time.
Are you having symptoms?
It can take up to 4 months to develop antibodies, though most will by 6 weeks, so if you are that concerned, test again at 6 weeks with a type specific IgG test. If you don't get symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it.
IgM tests for other things work as they are supposed to, but for herpes, ignore it entirely. Mine was negative when it should have been positive, and positive when it should have been negative. I'm not saying you don't have it - just that your IgM can't determine that.
4 Comments
Oh and a handjob is no risk for anything.
Ignore the part about asking about symptoms. I missed that.
Ignore the part about asking about symptoms. I missed that.
Dear Aunt Jessie,
Thank you for your comment. I have no symptoms and its been 10 days. The high value is what that worries me.
Thank you for your comment. I have no symptoms and its been 10 days. The high value is what that worries me.
I can understand why that's concerning, but it's still an IgM test. It could come back with a 10.8, and still be wrong. Don't focus on that part, focus on it being an IgM and an unreliable test. If your only risks were the handjob and the protected oral sex, your risk is very, very low.
Oh and your only at risk for hsv1 from receiving oral sex.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
