Confused HSV 2 results. Is the WB test needed?

[anonymous477]

Hi Terri, I can really use your help,

I am a 22 year old male. I had only been sexually active with 2 women my whole life. I only had one unprotected session where I only received oral sex in 2018 from a woman I no longer have contact with, (no intercourse), and in December 2019 I had protected intercourse (used a condom) with another woman, and it was only one sexual encounter. I took an STD test in June of 2020 and I tested negative for HSV 1 (less than 0.90) and equivocal for HSV 2 (0.91) so then I went back in the middle of August 2020 and they only tested me for HSV 2, which thankfully came back negative (less than 0.90). All my tests were done with Quest Diagnostics IGG Type-specific antibody test. From that day forward, I have had NO sexual intercourse.

Then this year in January of 2023, I went to the doctor for my checkup and I asked her to include an HSV 1 and HSV 2 test, but she didn’t recommend it because she didn’t think it was necessary but she approved the test for me anyway. I took the blood test and then on January 18, 2023, I tested positive for HSV 2
(1.28 index IGG Type Specific Antibody test) but the HSV 1 IGG test was not done. The doctor did not prescribe me antivirals and I told her I haven’t had sexual intercourse since December of 2019 and had no outbreaks, she said come back for a retest in 4-6 weeks, and I asked her if she can approve the WB test, but she declined. She wants to only do the same IGG antibody test. Quest did not re-use the same blood sample to do a confirmation test.

1) What is the percentage that this 1.28 HSV 2 index is a false positive after me not having sexual intercourse for 3 whole years and also tested negative for HSV 8 months after my last sexual encounter?

2) I did take natural testosterone supplements, estrogen blockers, and whey protein daily for the whole of December 2022 before the test in January 2023. Could that have done something to make it seem like I inaccurately had a lot of HSV 2 antibodies?

[Terri Warren]

1) What is the percentage that this 1.28 HSV 2 index is a false positive after me not having sexual intercourse for 3 whole years and also tested negative for HSV 8 months after my last sexual encounter?
There is an approximately 90% chance that an index value in this range is a false positive. With your very limited sexual activity and no sex for three years, I would bet a whole lot of money that this is a false positive. there is absolutely no point in retesting with the IgG test. Her limited understanding of herpes antibody testing is very disappointing to me. If I were you, I would put this worry away.

2) I did take natural testosterone supplements, estrogen blockers, and whey protein daily for the whole of December 2022 before the test in January 2023. Could that have done something to make it seem like I inaccurately had a lot of HSV 2 antibodies?
I doubt it.

Terri

[Author]

Posts