6 years later I tested negative

[patientzero]

In 2010 at age 20 I tested positive via igg for HSV 1 and 2 with scores of 1.09 and 1.24 respectively. Because these were borderline I was retested 3 months later and the results were .9 and 1.1 respectively.

I honestly don’t remember if I’ve ever had an outbreak, if I have it was only once, but again i just don’t know.

I’ve taken acyclovir and valacyclovir to reduce the possibility of transmission to partners for most of the last 6 years.

I got tested again just to have the piece of paper for someone I started dating. HSV 1 and 2 came back negative with scores of .7 and <.2 respectively.

So what? Is it possible my antibody levels have just dropped super low and yet I’m still a danger to partners? Does the igg score have any connection to contagiousness?

What should I do now, I don’t know if I have HSV or not. Western Blot?

[Terri Warren]

I seriously doubt that you are infected with HSV 2, not as sure about HSV 1 because the test is not very good for HSV 1. Your statement that you think you might have had on outbreak changes things a bit. The level of IgG speaks nothing about how contagious you are or are not.

How long after you tested positive did you start taking daily antiviral medicine?

Terri

[patientzero]

I probably started antiviral medicine within a month of testing positive.

I don’t remember if I ever had an outbreak because in September of that year I had “molluscum contagiosum” visually diagnosed by a Dr. In my memory sometimes I think I’ve equated that outbreak with hsv but I know they are different and I cannot recall if I had a separate outbreak during or immediately after.

I think it’s important to point out that I’m fairly certain I had unprotected sex with someone with HSV. This person never admitted it but someone else, though hardly reliable, told me about it unsolicited, which to me gave it merit.

It would have been about 2 months or less between sex and the tests. I got them every 6 months regardless.

Is it possible that contact increased my antibodies without infecting me?

What can I do to figure this out?

[Terri Warren]

I don’t think that the contact caused your antibody to increase without infecting you, no.
To figure this out you would need to come off therapy for at least two months and retest. I know of no other way to know for sure.

Terri

[patientzero]

Last few questions then.

So, what I’m hearing is if I stay off antivirals for 2 months and test negative I can be 100% certain?

What about things I’ve read that say igg’s will only find 1 in 10 infections? Are there strains which cannot be tested?

Last one:

Would the knowledge that before testing positive/equivalent in June, and less so in August, I tested negative (<.9 and <.9) in January, change your beliefs about the likelihood of my infection?

Thank you for your help. Your a good resource for many of us in need.

[Terri Warren]

I have no idea where you read that IgG testing picks up only one out of 10 infections – that’s totally incorrect.
If you tested also negative in January, that reinforces that I think you are actually negative, at least for HSV 2.
Yes, I think if you stay off antivirals for 2 months your western blot would be accurate.

Terri

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