Herpes Information, Resources, & Consultation | Westover Heights

  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri
  • Home
  • Herpes Forum
    • Get Herpes Help
    • Getting a Herpes Western Blot – Video Consult
    • The Good News About The Bad News
  • Free Resources
    • Herpes Handbook
    • Living with Herpes Video
  • Contact
  • Login
  • About Terri

3 Negative Agg tests, positive swab

› Forums › Herpes Questions › 3 Negative Agg tests, positive swab

  • This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 11 months ago by Terri Warren.
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • July 1, 2015 at 11:03 pm #7774
      hydrarkt
      Participant

      Hi,
      I think I was exposed to HSV (not sure which type) 1.5 years ago. I say this, as I had a small outbreak of herpes looking blisters on my penis. Approximately 3 months later, I had an HSV IGG blood test: HSV-2= negative. I was positive for HSV-1=positive. But I’ve had oral cold sores since a child, so I figured that was it.
      Four months later, I had itching but no blisters in my groin. I went for another full IGG blood test. Same results:
      HSV-2=negative, HSV-1= positive.
      Four months later, more itching.. thought maybe fungal from steam bath… no tests
      Five months later, small herpes looking blisters, no pain at all. I went got them swabbed the same day: on the phone, the nurse said culture reacted to HSV-2. I started with 500 mg Valtrex per day… 2 weeks later, I took another IGG blood test for HSV-2 only = negative.

      HSV 2 IGG, TYPE SPECIFIC AB HERPESELECT
      HSV 2 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB <0.90 01
      Value Interpretation
      —– ————–
      <0.90 Negative
      0.90-1.10 Equivocal
      >1.10 Positive

      So now I’m confused. 3 IGG HSV-2 negatives and one swab positive for HSV-2!!!

      I know there are false positive and negatives. And I’ve heard that the swab test is the “gold standard.” But 3 false negatives on bloods seems unlikely.

      Any ideas what could be going on?

      Thanks

      • This topic was modified 6 years, 12 months ago by hydrarkt.
    • July 3, 2015 at 3:02 pm #7816
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Hmmm. It looks to me like the antibody test missed the HSV 2 infection. Our most recent study of the sensitivity of the screening test confirms the package insert on this one – it misses only about 3 out of 100 cases. Yours looks like it is one. A positive AND typed swab from a recurrent lesion (four thing here: lesion, recurrent nature of the lesion, positive swab, and the ability to type it) suggests that the swab test is correct, not the antibody test. You could do a western blot to see how that turns out.

      In my experience, once the antibody screening test misses an infection ,it will miss it every time (or most every time).

      Terri

    • July 6, 2015 at 6:44 am #7914
      hydrarkt
      Participant

      Ok. Thanks. Where can I get the Western Blot done? I live in Boston.

    • July 6, 2015 at 3:11 pm #7926
      Terri Warren
      Keymaster

      Our clinic can order the western blot for you easily, to be drawn at a lab near where you live in Boston. It will be shipped to the University of Washington for you. You need to call the clinic to make a phone consultation appointment at which time you and I will discuss the testing and arrange it for you.

      Terri

  • Author
    Posts
Log In Register Lost Password
Viewing 3 reply threads

You must register to ask your own question or be logged in to reply to this question.

Welcome to the Forum!

About Our Herpes Forum

Terri Warren is here to respond to concerns and questions you have about genital herpes and your own personal situation.

For the past 30 years, genital herpes has been her special area of interest and she has conducted many, many research studies on various aspects of genital herpes.

Each interaction is a question with two follow up questions for $25.00.

Learn More About Our Herpes Forum

Get Personalized Help

Terri Warren is here to help you with your herpes concerns. Learn more about Terri

Westover Herpes Info

  • Do I have Herpes?
  • Living with Herpes Video
  • Getting a Herpes Western Blot
    & Video Consultation
  • Herpes Forum
    Terri Warren, ANP

Search Forums

Copyright © 2022 · Westover Heights Clinic · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

7410 SW Oleson Road PO BOX 427 Portland, OR 97223

Phone: Fax:

Website by 0101 Design