Accuracy of Herpes Western Blot Test

[RS15]

Hi Terri,

I tested negative via Western blot for HSV1 and HSV2 13.5 weeks after my encounter of concern. I also tested negative via IGG for HSV1 and HSV2 12 weeks after my encounter. I took one singular dose of an anti viral medication 4 weeks after my encounter of concern. I read that taking anti virals can slow down replication and mess up results. Thus, I stopped taking them. Would this single dose mess up my HSV western blot results? Should I retest?

I have had oral HSV1 since I have been a child and even off antivirals that has failed to appear on any IGG blood tests. It did not appear on my Western Blot as well which is confusing to me. The accuracy of HSV 1 western blot is 95% and for HSV 2 it is 99.6%, correct?

Please advise on your thoughts and if I should retest. thank you

[Terri Warren]

There is no way a single dose of antivirals would mess up a western blot, absolutely not.
When you say that you’ve had oral HSV 1 since childhood, are the sores you experience internal or external?
Yes, the percentages that you quote are accurate.
I don’t think retesting would be useful, no.

Terri

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