Equivocal result

[Alekb]

Hi,

I had relations with a girl match 1st. Got hsv igm and igg testing for type 1 and 2 March 19th. IGM negative for both and igg neg for hsv1 but equivocal of 1.02 for hsv2. Took tthe same test a week later march 26th and got equivocal of 1.01 this time. I never had aan OB and I’ve seen many doctors who will confirmed this. Then march 29the I had the pcr blood dna test which got negative for both. I’ve heard that the test is no good (pcr) what’s your opinion here

[Terri Warren]

When you post new posts, it moves your question away from the most current posts and delays a response.

The fact that you continue to be equivocal suggests that you are NOT Positive for HSV 2. If your value moves to a low positive, you should obtain the herpes western blot. If it stays equivocal, I think you need to do nothing about this test result. Please do not do the IgM any more – it has many false positives. a PCR blood test is useless because herpes is a disease of nerves and skin, not blood. The PCR is useful for swabbing lesions.

Terri

[Alekb]

I’ve had many physicians tell me the pcr blood test is a good test to take. Even web md claims it’s a good test. Why would testing sites even offer it if it’s no good? Do you think I waited long enough to take my IGG test ? ( 18 days and 25 days post potential exposure ) also the IGM was negative which means that I wasn’t recently exposed correct ? Do you recommend I take another IGG or should I leave it alone

[Terri Warren]

The PCR is an excellent test when used correctly. In the case of herpes virus, it is to be used as a swab test, not a blood test. Herpes is extremely rarely in the blood, it is in your nerves and skin. Does that help you to better understand the issue of PCR? If you need further clarification, read the CDC guidelines for herpes diagnosis and perhaps share that reference with the many doctors who tell you it is a great blood test. The IgM test is useless and the CDC says to not use it (though I’m sure you can find someplace on the internet that says it should be used but it should not and a negative means nothing (nor a positive). You did not wait long enough to take the IgG test – you should wait 12 weeks from any possible exposure. If you want to know with the greatest accuracy that the IgG offers, retest at 12 weeks. Remember that the IgG test is an antibody test – the PCR test looks for virus itself.

Terri

[Alekb]

Thanks for the clarification. I am taking another IGG test tomorrow I have my fingers crossed. Is it a good sign my number went down on the second equivocal result ? Also lets say I get ewuicoal again what should I do ? It’s been about 66 days since last potential exposure is that enough ? I can’t wait the full 12 weeks

[Terri Warren]

An equivocal result is not a positive result. It is just what it says – it is over the cutoff for negative and under the cutoff for positive. If you get another equivocal, infection is unlikely.
You can’t wait the 12 weeks recommended for the most accurate result? Are you going somewhere they don’t do testing in 12 weeks? I don’t understand but…..
This is your final post on this subscription.

Terri

[Alekb]

Terri,

I purchased more questions. so since we last spoke I took the igg test at 66 days post exposure ( 9 weeks) and got negative for type 1 and 2. Due to my anxious nature I couldn’t let it go. i decided to have another IGG test done at 13 weeks and my worst fears came true. I got a positive of 1.1 which is the lowest positive you can get. I’m pretty depressed right now but I know there is still a chance it’s a false positive. I’ve been seen by many doctors and none of them think what I present are the physical symptoms of herpes. The only reason I even got tested was because I had relations with a CSW. Protected vaginal but unprotected oral both giving and receiving. Anyway I have a couple of questions. I called the Uni of W and asked for the blot kit.

#1. Do I take the kit to my physician and have them fill out the order form?

#2. At the point , can I take this to anylabnow and have them draw my blood and send it to Washington ?

#3. Do I just include a check in the kit ? if anylabnow doesn’t send it , do I have FedEx send it for me ?

#4. what are my chances of a false positive here ? I got 2 equivocal at 2 and 3 weeks, negative at 9 , and low positive at 13 weeks

[Terri Warren]

#1. Do I take the kit to my physician and have them fill out the order form?

Yes, I hope they will do that for you.

#2. At the point , can I take this to anylabnow and have them draw my blood and send it to Washington ?

No, you cannot go and have your blood drawn without a clinician order. There is a lab requisition in the kit but it needs to be filled out by a clinician it cannot be filled out by you.

#3. Do I just include a check in the kit ? if anylabnow doesn’t send it , do I have FedEx send it for me ?

Once a clinician orders your test, you can put a check in the kit and send it off but you cannot order the test your self. You must have a clinician order the test
.

#4. what are my chances of a false positive here ? I got 2 equivocal at 2 and 3 weeks, negative at 9 , and low positive at 13 weeks

The chances of a false positive are incredibly high. I think it is likely that you have a protein in your blood that has a similar molecular weight to one of the herpes antibody proteins and that protein is causing your equivocal results as well as your low positive results. But at this point, now that you have continued to test and have a positive result, you do need the Western blot as confirmation

Terri

[Alekb]

i hope you are right. the fact that I got a negative also plays into your theory correct? I was told this one time encounter was low risk, is that right ? I don’t understand why the blot is not readily available everywhere. the fact that the CDC recommends against testing in asymptomatic patients indicates to me that the IGG test isn’t that reliable. anyway one last question, I got the kit today but they say ” specimens that include the serum and lab requisition form in the same box will be rejected.” However, the plastic bag they provide says place the serum in the zip lock section with the requestiom form in the front pouch. do I send the requisition form in a separate bag? I’m confused

[Terri Warren]

The CDC does not recommend against testing for all asymptomatic people. In fact, they say that for the person seeking STD screening “HSV testing should be considered”. You need to just keep the lab requisition in a different zip lock than the serum, so that if the serum leaks, it won’t ruin the lab req. If you have more questions about that, call UW at 206-685-6066

Terri

[Alekb]

so any lab now will send the package to UW for me or do I have to?

[Terri Warren]

Most of the anylabtestnow labs also ship – some do not. If they do not, there are shipping instructions inside the kit.

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

Terri

[Alekb]

Terri,

Just renewed my questions. I got my western blot results faxed to my doctor. The results were negative for both types of HSV. The interpretation was “no evidence of HSV infection”. I just have a couple of questions.

#1. I got this test a little over 4 months since last potential exposure. I have had no had sex since then. Is it safe to say I’m herpes free?

#2 The WB is more accurate than the IGG correct?

#3. it still keeps me up at night that I got a positive on the IGG. Even after reading the CDCs site and how the possibility of false positives are present I still feel conflicted. Should I tell future partners about this ? I think most people would feel sketched out at a positive test and run for the hills even if I tell them about the WB. I would prefer not to say anything at all. I feel as though I’m almost over this but I just wanted to follow up with you. I find myself reading the results over and over again and still not believing I’m free of herpes.

[Terri Warren]

1. Yes. UW says wait 12 weeks from any possible exposure to herpes to do the test
2. Far more accurate, yes
3. There is absolutely no reason to disclose a false positive IgG!

Terri

[Alekb]

so the CDC says the herpesselect test( through quest lab) might be falsely positive. I read that labcorp( the place I tested IGG with) uses the capita. Is there any difference in accuracy or false positive chances between the two? Again I got a negative WB at 4 months should I just stop worrying about this and move on ?

[Terri Warren]

No. They both have false positives in the low positive range. but I don’t know why you are even thinking about these substandard tests when you have a western blot that is negative. Just stop worrying and move on.

Terri

[Author]

Posts