Do I need more testing?

[HerpesHelpPlease321]

I have tested positive via Quest twice via HSV-2 IgG Inhibition . My first result for Hsv2 were 1.8 & the second is 2.43. Are blood tests for herpes definitive/reliable or should I get the western blot to confirm? I also have never had any symptoms, so I have not been swabbed for culture testing. I’ve been reading that less than 3.0 is considered low positive and has a chance of being a false positive therefore I may or may not have herpes. I’m not sure if that statement true for all Herpes blood tests including IgG inhibition.

• This topic was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by HerpesHelpPlease321.

[Terri Warren]

If it were me, I would do the blot. We have some patients who were positive on inhibition assay and negative on western blot.

Terri

[HerpesHelpPlease321]

My doctor tells me blood tests are unreliable for diagnosis and further confirmation testing & without an actual swab with positive result I shouldn’t worry myself with having the western blot test. But she also keeps mentioning Igm which I thought wasn’t used in texting for the virus anymore and she insists that the western blot will,just like the other tests only test for Igm/IgG is that true?? Idk what to do. I thought western blot was supposed to be more accurate. Also if these tests are known for false positives how is that determined if there is no reliable confirmatory testing? It doesn’t make much sense. She tells me if I have no symptoms don’t worry about it but I can’t not worry when I was told I’m positive for this virus per blood testing. Are false negatives something that is true for western blot as well??

[HerpesHelpPlease321]

Also after my second positive result of 2.43 the reflex came back inconclusive, what does that mean exactly ?? What differentiates the western blot test from other tests like inhibition assays? How are false positives determined ?

[Terri Warren]

While the IGG test looks for a single antibody protein that is different between HSV 1 and hSV 2, the western blot looks for all 16 antibody proteins and four must be present to be called positive.
An inconclusive inhibition assay is likely negative.
I’m sorry that your provider is so uninformed about herpes antibody testing, including advising in favor of IgM test which is not recommend by the CDC and saying the blot is like other antibody tests when it is very different.

Terri

• This reply was modified 2 months ago by Terri Warren.

[HerpesHelpPlease321]

My doctor is discouraging with helping get the western blot test, instead she offered IgG testing again ! Is it possible to do the western blot without my doctor ??

Also are false negatives something that is true for western blot? Like what are the chances?

[Terri Warren]

I’m confused about why your doctor would discourage you from doing the gold standard test, but I can work with you to do that. If you want my help, you can sign up for a telehealth appointment on this website, following a link.

The only thing that is possible with a false negative is testing too soon or taking a long course of antiviral medication.

If you want to do the blot, I would be happy to help

Terri

[HerpesHelpPlease321]

Hi Terri ! I’ve done the Western Blot & I am still confused.

So I was initially diagnosed back in 2015 with HSV2 by IGG, result was 1.8 & Negative for HSV1.
Second test June 2023 came back positive for both; HSV1 1.48 & HSV2 2.43 with INCONCLUSIVE reflex result
Western Blot came back INDETERMINATE for both HSV1 & HSV2

I have been advised to retest in 3 months.
Why did both tests come back inconclusive and indeterminate? What does that mean?
I still don’t have peace of mind although my doctor says it’s good news because it didn’t come back positive

[Terri Warren]

You almost certainly have a single antibody protein, it is almost every time the same one, that can be present in other disease states and also is one of the herpes antibody proteins, so when it shows up, the western blot is called indeterminate because it could be that you were in the process of making antibody and that one shows up early. That’s why the recommend that you retest in three months and if indeterminate again, consider yourself negative.

terri

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