confused about results

[Worried18@]

Hello i am hoping you can help me clear up some questions.

i am male and i have previously tested 3 times over a number of years and had positive HSV-1 result and negative HSV-2 with last result being in Nov of 2016.

Name 2/2012 4/2016 11/2016

HSV 1 Specific IgG 7.63 9.7 8.4

HSV 2 Specific IgG <0.90 <0.90 <0.90

I have recently tested again as part of a general check up at a different lab on 5/2018 because i am now in a relationship and had both HSV-1 and HSV-2 come back positive with the following indexes: 53.7 for HSV-1 and 12.1 for HSV-2. I always had oral cold sores but never had any breakouts in genital area.

5/2018
HSV 1 IGG, TYPE SPECIFIC AB 53.70 index

HSV 2 IGG, TYPE SPECIFIC AB 12.10 index

Before my current relationship, the only exposure i had in previous 6 months leading to HSV-2 negative result was oral sex performed on me which happened 3 months prior to latest negative HSV-2 result on 11/2016.

my questions are:
1) the latest result has HSV-1 index at 53, while three previous results were in the 7, 8 and 9 range..is that strange and should i retest? i am not sure if i can even trust this test since HSV-1 values are so much higher than before.
2) could i have acquired HSV-2 via oral sex, even though i tested negative at 13 weeks? could this result at 3 months mark been a false negative?
3) what should i do now> should i retest via western blot?
4) should i ask my current girlfriend to test? we always use condoms for vaginal sex but not for oral sex. She had previously tested positive for a combination of HSV 1 & 2 but the test didn’t breakout which one or both were positive.
5)what is the most probable way i might have acquired HSV-2 if at all?

i am now worried that i can pass the HSV-2 infection to her.

[Terri Warren]

my questions are:
1) the latest result has HSV-1 index at 53, while three previous results were in the 7, 8 and 9 range..is that strange and should i retest? i am not sure if i can even trust this test since HSV-1 values are so much higher than before.

The last one was done with a different test kit – the ranges are different. Make nothing of it.

2) could i have acquired HSV-2 via oral sex, even though i tested negative at 13 weeks? could this result at 3 months mark been a false negative?

I think that is extremely unlikely. Are you having sex with the new partner? Could this be a new infection?
3) what should i do now> should i retest via western blot?
Yes, if you were my in person patient, I would strongly recommend the blot. This makes no sense.

4) should i ask my current girlfriend to test? we always use condoms for vaginal sex but not for oral sex. She had previously tested positive for a combination of HSV 1 & 2 but the test didn’t breakout which one or both were positive.
She needs a type specific test to help sort this out. It is unlikely that you would acquire HSV 2 using a condom but definitely not impossible.

5)what is the most probable way i might have acquired HSV-2 if at all?

Given all of this, either you tested too soon after an encounter and acquired it a while ago or you acquired it from this new partner. If you have it

What is the name of the lab on the test results form that performed the testing?

Terri

[Worried18@]

thank you Terri for your response.

the main question is could this be a false positive result with a 12 index, seems unlikely, right? this test was performed by Quest. should i try the same test again as Quest doesn’t offer western blot any longer?

do you think a potential exposure to HSV 2 via oral sex and a 3 month negative result be considered as conclusive negative? you seem to think exposure from this is extremely low. i read that HSV 2 acquisition from oral performed on you is extremely low and combined with the 3 month negative result would stack my odds that i didnt acquire HSV 2 from this incident, correct?

could i have acquired hsv 2 from my current partner via oral sex while protected vaginal sex? is this scenario more likely than the above one time exposure?

i am quite confused as i don’t see a straight exposure…

[Terri Warren]

Condoms don’t protect men as well as they protect women. If your current partner is infected, this could be your source. Seattle STD clinic had a patient who tested positive at 14 by IgG and their western blot was negative. I think your current partner should be tested first and if she is negative, go for the blot. Your history just isn’t fitting with a new infection, in my opinion

Terri

[Worried18@]

thank you. i will get my g/f to get tested and then will do the Western blot for me.

meanwhile, can i ask why you don’t think that my “history just isn’t fitting with a new infection”?

[Terri Warren]

Because after a negative test you have only received oral sex and had sex with this partner whose results you do not know yet. HSV 2 is so rarely transmitted from oral sex – I personally have never seen that happen. This just doesn’t fit with someone with new herpes.

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

Terri

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Terri Warren.

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