1.16 HSV2 IGG value at 22 weeks after sex

[1.16 at 22 weeks]

Hi Terri,

I’m a male in my late 30s. I recently tested positive for HSV-2, according to a Quest test. My IGG value was 1.16, and I took this test 22 weeks after I had sex once with a condom (used correctly and didn’t break, girl was on top) with someone who is high risk (she told me later that she had slept with dozens of guys). She also performed oral on me for less than a minute without a condom. Other possible relevant factors are: 1) I have had zero HSV-2 symptoms; 2) I have HSV-1 and my IGG value for that on this test was 45.50; and 3) 4 weeks after sex in 2019, I received a false positive from a LabCorp HSV-2 test–my IGG value was 1.01, their supplemental test said I was positive, and a follow-up test 3 months later said I was negative (I had HSV-1 back in 2019, as well).

Here are my questions:

1) I know from reading other posts here that my recent positive result is likely a false positive, given the low IGG value and the time that has passed since I had sex. But could you estimate for me how likely it is to be a false positive?

2) To ease my mind a bit: what IGG value range would be normal for someone like me to have, if I had contracted HSV-2 22 weeks prior to testing? I assume it would be well over 1.16, but I don’t know by how much.

3) Is it worth doing a western blot or Quest’s HSV-2 confirmation test? (FWIW, peace of mind wise, I already mostly believe I got a false positive.) As to western blot, I live in a small-population area and there are no Any Lab Test Now locations remotely near me. I’m sure I could figure out a way to do the test, but it would probably involve a several hours’ travel and research to find a place to draw my blood for the test. As to Quest’s confirmation test, from reading this forum, it sounds like it is still quite vulnerable to false positives. Given that I appear to have gotten a false positive from LabCorp’s confirmation test in 2019, I’m concerned that I’m especially likely to get one now.

[Terri Warren]

1) I know from reading other posts here that my recent positive result is likely a false positive, given the low IGG value and the time that has passed since I had sex. But could you estimate for me how likely it is to be a false positive?
There is at least an 85% chance that this is a false positive – probably higher

2) To ease my mind a bit: what IGG value range would be normal for someone like me to have, if I had contracted HSV-2 22 weeks prior to testing? I assume it would be well over 1.16, but I don’t know by how much.
Probably 3.5 and higher it would be 85% certainty

3) Is it worth doing a western blot or Quest’s HSV-2 confirmation test? (FWIW, peace of mind wise, I already mostly believe I got a false positive.) As to western blot, I live in a small-population area and there are no Any Lab Test Now locations remotely near me. I’m sure I could figure out a way to do the test, but it would probably involve a several hours’ travel and research to find a place to draw my blood for the test. As to Quest’s confirmation test, from reading this forum, it sounds like it is still quite vulnerable to false positives. Given that I appear to have gotten a false positive from LabCorp’s confirmation test in 2019, I’m concerned that I’m especially likely to get one now.
Yup,you should be concerned. We’ve seen quite a few false positive inhibition assays. But if you do it and it’s negative, there is excellent agreement between negative inhibition assays and negative western blots done later.

We also use ARC point labs all around the US if that might be helpful

Terri

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