Back with test results

[rowanoak]

Hello, Terri.

I finally acquired my husbands’ test results, and I have a Western Blot test for myself at the ready. Here are his test numbers.

IgM III 1.59 ratio

IgG HSV I 3.48 index
IgG HSV II <0.91 index

Can you tell me, can anything be inferred from those values? I’m pretty sure the positive would be a true positive, given he had blistering. Can anything be inferred about the length of time he has been carrying the virus from those numbers? I believe not, but I’d like to hear from you on that count. Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

No, there is no way to know how long he has been infected with HSV 1. It falls just below the 3.5 we use as a cutoff for firm positives. He could confirm with western blot but I would guess it is really positive.

If you have posted before, I have no way to tie this to a previous post since you stated a new thread.

Terri

[rowanoak]

Ah, of course apologies for not continuing my old thread; it was here:

http://www.westoverheights.com/forum/question/spouse-recently-diasgnosed-i-am-clean-help/

Here is my follow up question based on what I know now – So, my husband certainly has HSV-1 genitally, as I saw the sores, and they looked like herpes sores. He was NOT swabbed, (I have no clue why the doctor did not do a swab as well) just had the antibody levels as I posted above. Now.. he *thinks* he gets cold sores occasionally in his mouth, but I have never seen one on him, and I (so far) test negative for HSV-1. Putting aside for the moment his statement that he gets cold sores, what is the typical situation for someone with HSV-1 genitally? I have read that a person typically has HSV-1 orally OR genitally, but not both. Is there any truth to that statement? I’m trying to determine just how many ways I can obtain the virus in terms of what preventative measures I want to take. Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

So sores in the mouth are generally canker sores not cold sores, a big difference. A person with genital HSV 1 generally has few recurrences and little shedding. Sometimes people get it both orally and genitally at the same time at a sexual encounter. They kiss and receive oral sex at the same encounter. I know that you are HSV 1 negative but remember that that test missed 1-2 out of 10 infections so it is possible that the test missed it in you also. You may wish to consider obtaining a western blot to be sure for the future.

Terri

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