Clarification Needed

[Stressedout1234]

Hello Ms. Warren,

Had an experience with a casual person I met. There was no sex. We kissed for about 3 minutes then she did oral on me for about 3 minutes. There was no ejaculation nor genital to genital touching. However I did lick my fingers and touched her genitals. Thirteen day after I did an STD test. Concern is herpes results:

Herpes 1 IGG <2 <16 Neg, Bet 16 & 22 Borderline, >22 Positive
Herpes 1 IGM 0.07 <0.80 Neg, Bet 0.8 & 1.1 Equivocal, > 1.1 Positive
Herpes II IGG 3.50 (Ranges as IGG above)
Herpes II IGM 2.13 (Ranges as IGM above) HIGH

I believe this is the EUROIMMUN test. I am not from the US.

No symptoms really. Have one pimple on anus with no pain. Nothing around penis. Slight itching at various places but I feel it’s more in my mind. Also had the flu. Forty days after the encounter and no further issues. I read the reviews about the IGM test so I wanted to know your thoughts. In addition I have high triglycerides and fatty liver….do these affect the tests in any way? What is your suggested way forward?

Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

I am not familiar with the Euroimmune ranges on the antibody test. If these were values on a us test, you would be soundly positive for both type one and type II. If you could get me the normal ranges for this test, I could possibly help you sort this out.

Terri

[Stressedout1234]

Sorry, maybe the spaces confused my message. The values are first followed by the ranges for negative, borderline/equivocal and positive.

Herpes 1 IGG <2 Range <16 Neg, Bet 16 & 22 Borderline, >22 Positive
Herpes 1 IGM 0.07 Range <0.80 Neg, Bet 0.8 & 1.1 Equivocal, > 1.1 Positive
Herpes II IGG 3.50 (Range as IGG above)
Herpes II IGM 2.13 (Range as IGM above) HIGH

As an update, still no symptoms after 50 days.

[Terri Warren]

So based on that, these look negative to me, do they do you?

Terri

[Stressedout1234]

Hi,

The hsv 2 igm score of 2.17 is high based on the range. Note igm has a different range from igg. I know you said hsv 2 oral sheds about 1% a year, so I am concerned about this test from such an encounter. The test was done 2 weeks after encounter. It’s been 9 weeks and no symptoms.

[Terri Warren]

IgM tests are notorious for false positives. I would not let this worry you. I pay no attention to these at all. Pay attention only to the IgG.
This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions feel free to renew

Terri

[Stressedout1234]

Hello Ms. Warren,

Just to recap.

Had an experience with a casual person I met. There was no sex. We kissed for about 3 minutes then she did oral on me for about 3 minutes. There was no ejaculation nor genital to genital touching. However I did lick my fingers and touched her genitals. Thirteen day after I did an STD test. Concern is herpes results:

Herpes 1 IGG <2 Range: <16 Neg, Bet 16 & 22 Borderline, >22 Positive
Herpes 1 IGM 0.07 Range: <0.80 Neg, Bet 0.8 & 1.1 Equivocal, > 1.1 Positive
Herpes II IGG 3.50 Range: <16 Neg, Bet 16 & 22 Borderline, >22 Positive
Herpes II IGM 2.13 Range: <0.80 Neg, Bet 0.8 & 1.1 Equivocal, > 1.1 Positive HIGH

Based on this test the HSV 2 IGM was high but you said to ignore it. I believe this is the EUROIMMUN test. I am not from the US. Note this was 13 days after.

Subsequent to this, I went to the US and did a test through STDCheck/Health Labs/Quest Diagnostic. I did this test 17 weeks after the encounter. Had no other sexual encounters in between.

In this test they did IGG alone and the results are as follows:

HSV 1 IGG 1.69 HIGH
HSV 2 IGG <0.9

Question:

1. What are the chances of the IGG HSV 1 being so low after 17 weeks if I was infected?
2. The first test the HSV 2 IGM was high and now this test HSV 2 IGG is good, but the HSV 1 IGG is slightly over when the HSV 1 IGM was good in the first test. seems they have switched.

I have never had symptoms so i am a little bit anxious.

Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

1. What are the chances of the IGG HSV 1 being so low after 17 weeks if I was infected?

This HSV 1 could be a false positive or you simply have a low positive and you are infected.

2. The first test the HSV 2 IGM was high and now this test HSV 2 IGG is good, but the HSV 1 IGG is slightly over when the HSV 1 IGM was good in the first test. seems they have switched.

Again, please – ignore the IgM test,it has no meaning.

Terri

[Stressedout1234]

Hi,

Thanks for replying. I am thinking about doing the Western Blot. Let’s suppose it comes back positive. How does one proceed with a normal relationship and inform your partner if there are no symptoms to determine if its oral or genital. Because oral is common and easily gotten….so do you think it is necessary to inform a partner? Seems to me they may think the worst without reason.

Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

About half the US population has HSV 1. If you test positive, you cannot know the location of your infection so all you could tell a partner is that you are infected with HSV 1 but don’t know where.
My sort of rule of thumb in the case of someone being infected but unaware of the infection is to disclose this status prior to engaging in any kind of sexual activity. This is not an ideal solution – I don’t know that ideal solution is honestly. You may want to think carefully about ordering this test. If negative, it would provide you with much needed reassurance but if positive, could present you with more difficult challenges.

Terri

[Stressedout1234]

Thank you Terri. This is a bit stressful. As it is now I would be telling someone that I am HSV 1 positive and I don’t know where, although in fact it may be a false positive. And then you are saying to think carefully about ordering the test and I see why. Thank you for all your help and advise. Sometimes I think I should just not say since it is so common but that would be unethical I think. A new partner might choose not to be with me or ask me to confirm first unless they themselves have it. Any final thoughts?

[Terri Warren]

well, all I can suggest is that you observe carefully for any symptoms in either location.
I do think that if you are going to give oral sex to someone, that you should disclose your HSV one status. This is my advice from both the moral and legal and medical point of view. Depending upon where you live, it is very likely that a partner that you have will also be infected with HSV one and this will not be an issue. If both parties are infected with the same virus, it is highly unlikely that either would acquire new infection a a new Place on their bodies.

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew.

terri

• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Terri Warren.

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