Accuracy of Test Results

[Newuser637]

Hello!
I am hoping for some clarity on my situation and my blood test results. I [24F] slept with someone exactly 8 weeks ago who lied to me and didn’t tell me he had GHSV2 until after we hooked up. This then led to extreme stress on my end and this stress caused what I at least thought at the time to be a breakout of a few cold sores which never raised or even became visible as I used Abreva as soon as I felt a tingle.

This breakout happened about 5 days after the last exposure. I have always thought that I had OHSV1 as I have been getting cold sores around once a year since I was at least in middle school. So I thought maybe this breakout was my OHSV1 coming up due to stress.

Me and this person had vaginal sex with a condom and I performed oral sex on him twice without a condom. So I am a bit concerned about the chance of having caught HSV2 orally. Especially with the oral breakout I had experienced, although I’m starting be unsure if that was an outbreak anymore as I also had just experienced a sunburn on my lips and that could have caused the tingling.

I have not had any vaginal symptoms whatsoever. I have tested with IgG at 1 week, 4 weeks, and now at 8 weeks. All negative for HSV2 and HSV1. However at 4 weeks I tested 0.91 (equivocal) for HSV1. I am confused as I have always thought I had HSV1 but even my recent 8 week test was negative for HSV1. Makes me concerned about the accuracy of the test.

For clarity, the only symptoms I’ve had were some tingling on my lips days after. Unsure if that tingling would have turned into cold sores if I hadn’t used Abreva.

questions
1. How accurate is the test for HSV2 at 8 weeks? and should I be able to put this behind me?
2. Do you think it’s safe to say I’m in the clear for HSV2 after 3 IgG tests being negative or should I pursue the Western Blot at 12 weeks?
3. Is the fact that I haven’t tested positive for HSV1 concerning considering I’ve gotten cold sores in the past? Is this also affecting my HSV2 results?

[Newuser637]

I wanted to be more concise about my results so you could better answer my questions!

IgG Results 1 week after exposure:
HSV2: <0.90 Negative
HSV1: <0.90 Negative

IgG Results at 4 Weeks:
HSV2: <0.90 Negative
HSV1: 0.91 H Equivocal

IgG Results at 8 weeks: (I believe this was a different lab as I went to a new urgent care facility)
HSV2: <0.2 Negative
HSV1: 0.2 Negative

The results for the 8 week test were <0.2 instead of <0.90. Never seen these index values so wanted your input. Also for week 8, HSV1 was 0.2 instead of <0.2 but still says its negative. Not sure if there is a difference. Hope to get clarity on this.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Newuser637.

[Newuser637]

Hello, I saw some other answered questions after mine, just wanted to make sure you saw this!

[Newuser637]

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[Newuser637]

Hi Terri, just getting very anxious and would like some reassurance. Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

1. How accurate is the test for HSV2 at 8 weeks? and should I be able to put this behind me?
I would think if you had acquired HSV 2, you would be showing at least a low positive on the igG test, though the IgG test for HSV 2 does miss 8% of infections compared to the western blot

2. Do you think it’s safe to say I’m in the clear for HSV2 after 3 IgG tests being negative or should I pursue the Western Blot at 12 weeks?
See my answer above.

3. Is the fact that I haven’t tested positive for HSV1 concerning considering I’ve gotten cold sores in the past? Is this also affecting my HSV2 results?
No, the IgG test for HSV 1 misswes 30% of infections compared to the western blot. If you’ve had cold sores in the past, you have HSV 1 infection

Terri

[Newuser637]

Thank you! I am getting my western blot drawn and shipped out on tuesday. I wanted to ask, in your experience how long does it typically take to get results once UOW has the sample?

[Terri Warren]

One to three weeks.

Terri

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