Could be False Positives ?

[michaelscott]

On Sept 5-10 of 2022, i had protected/unprotected sex multiple times with my boyfriend and at that time which both of us was unaware, he was having symptoms such as headache & slight fever. The week after seeing me he had an outbreak on his private area. He went to the doctor’s & got swab & was tested positive for herpes probably for HSV2 ( i didn’t ask ) i assume it is considering where the outbreak occurred.
I got Igg test on 9/22 through Quest Diagnostic, result was: HSV1 >58.00 , HSV2 4.51
I was showing no symptoms at all for both types. i never had cold sores in my life – i would often get cankers which was inside my mouth when im stressed or on my menstrual cycle. I had like i think a pimple on my genitalia one time around may of 2022 after i shaved & used a rusted razor.
Fast Forward to Dec, i was stressing and doubtful the results & that it could be a false positive regardless how high it is bcus I’m wasn’t showing any symptoms for both at all. He admitted that he had a protected sex with a stranger he met at a club 3months prior before seeing me on Sept. & so, i got tested again on 12/13 for an Igg Test through Labcorb results were: HSV1>62.20 , HSV2 16.80
– was unable to sleep well, i was crying a lot, Due to the stress and me worrying about the results which is higher than the first test. i got my first outbreak between my vagina & rectum,(not the same spot as the pimple i had back in may)only had 3-4 tiny blisters and so i got HSV culture/type test trough Labcorp on 12/20. i tested “positive for HSV2.Typing was confirmed by monoclonal antibody microscopic immunofluorescence. “
It wasn’t painful or bothering me at all only when something was touching it like my underwear or sitting where its against a hard surface. The blisters was gone not even a week, was sensitive & stings when touched, i assumed probably because the Dr had poked it with needle. I was also on Valacyclovir 1000mg. I never showed symptoms except for the blisters.

[michaelscott]

I had meningitis as a baby ( i’m fine now) and chickenpox as a kid, never got vaccinated for it. In your opinion, Do you think the value was so high for HSV1/ HSV2 right away could be because of cross reactions of the viruses? could the positive results be misleading? Or the results are right and that I’ve had it along time & never showed symptoms and possibly gave it to him?

Im kind of confused, my dr didn’t really explain the results to me but based on my results, do i have HSV1 or HSV2 or Both types? And how much of a risk of transmitting the virus to someone through kissing or giving oral is have hsv2 / hsv1 while im on meds?

Do you think its worth it for me to get a western blot to confirm the results ? or should i accept my results that i have now?

[Terri Warren]

I believe there is no question that you have both HSV 1 and HSV 2. You have a positive swab test for HSV 2, so that’s confirmed and with an index value this high for HSV 1, there is also no question that it is positive. We cannot know if your HSV 1 infection is oral or genital I’m afraid, though it is likely oral, even if you’ve never had a cold sore. We don’t have percentages on the transmission of HSV 1 through kissing or giving oral sex.

There is simply no reason to do the western blot – these results are most certainly positive.
It isn’t possible to know who gave what to whom I’m afraid.
Going on daily antiviral medication will reduce the risk of transmitting HSV 2 by 48% and will also likely reduce the risk of transmitting HSV 1 as well. If your partners use condoms, it will also reduce the risk of them getting HSV 2 by about 65%.

Terri

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