Dormant herpes

[Mattg]

Can a person have a negative igg test 4years after exposure? My partner is experiencing a primary outbreak recently and igg is negative. I myself am negative igg. Is it possible to have the virus dormant so many years with no seroconversion?

[Terri Warren]

I need to know more. Which type of herpes was diagnosed and how was it diagnosed, exactly? If you are both negative, when was the last time either of you had sex with anyone else? If the infection is HSV 1, the normal screening test misses 1 out of 4 infections. Let me know.

Terri

[Mattg]

Hi Terri, the herpes was diagnosed visually by my partners dr. No swab test was done. Igg tests for her are negative both type 1 and 2. Her symptoms seem in line with a primary outbreak. Small cluster blisters that opened and healed, fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches..
I am asymptomatic. Negative igg test for both type 1 and 2. I have had no other sex partners in 4 years. She also says she has not had other partners. Obviously, I am skeptical about this. Her explanation is that she was exposed prior to our relationship, but that the virus was dormant until now, thus the negative Igg results. She was also tested 2 years ago for a pregnancy with negative igg. Is her explanation possible? Plausible?

[Terri Warren]

It’s a shame that no testing of the lesions was done because now there are so many questions up in the air. Are you sure she was tested two year ago for a pregnancy? That isn’t routinely done but is being done more and more often.

Have you been concerned about your fidelity? If not, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions.

If you are the giver of oral sex to your partner and you have oral HSV 1 infection, you could have transferred this to her in this way, even if you have never had a cold sore that you recall. Remember that the test misses one out of four infections.
At some point about 3 months down the road, she should test again and if she is positive for HSV 2 and you are negative for HSV 2, then you can start worrying about infidelity. But at this point, I wouldn’t.

The virus could certainly have been dormant for years, but if it was HSV 2, there is a 98% chance that the antibody test would have picked it up – not so for HSV 1.

Terri

[Mattg]

Hi Terri. Thanks for your prompt response. I understand what you are saying about possible false negatives. And the differences between type 1 and type 2. And I think I understand you are saying the body will in fact produce antibodies after 16 weeks past exposure, regardless of any delay in the primary outbreak. Correct?

[Terri Warren]

I don’t know what you mean about delay in primary outbreak but I think what you mean by primary outbreak is first recognized outbreak.

The important thing to remember here is that the test misses so many HSV 1 infections. Please – keep that in mind as you try to sort out these test results.

Terri

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