Equivocal result confusion

[jamminbammin]

Hi Terri,

I am a 22 year old male from the United States. I recently had unprotected sex with a new partner two times in the past month (bad idea). The first encounter was October 5th, 2020 (unprotected oral vaginal sex) and then again October 11th, 2020 (short penetrative <1min and received oral sex).

Cue panic at my ignorance and on October 16th, I went to my provider to receive a full STD panel which came back:
HSV 1 IGG: 39.80H Index (Known infection)
HSV 2 IGG: 0.99 index (new)
<0.9 NEG
>0.9 <1.09 EQUIVOCAL
>1.1 POSITIVE
HSV 1 IGM SCREEN: NEGATIVE
HSV 2 IGM SCREEN: NEGATIVE

I freaked out because I didn’t get any value besides negative for HSV 2 IGG when I tested for it in 2019. I realized that the test is likely of little significance if a recent infection is assumed so I again retested on 10/28 (Not a full 4 weeks beyond first possible initial exposure) and received another equivocal result of 1.01.

I realize that these tests require a person to build up antibodies to be considered accurate but I cannot wrap my head around why if my body has started producing antibodies to a new infection – why did my value increase only a marginal 2% in almost 2 weeks?

I have experienced no outbreak or symptoms whatsoever. I contacted the partner and was told that she was clean per a screening performed a month prior (but did not include HSV1 & 2).

I am in limbo at the moment, I’m not sure whether I am negative or positive though I will treat myself as positive until I can gain some understanding or confirmation on what my results mean.

I am thinking of getting retested in a few weeks and see if that will give me some clarity on these results and if that doesn’t help then I will have to try a western blot possibly a month from then to ensure the test is accurate.

My question to you is:
Are either of these results indicative of possible exposure given the short timeline provided and when is a good time for me to be retested?

[Terri Warren]

It just isn’t possible to know what these equivocal results mean at this time. It is possible that you are seroconverting but it’s also possible this is nothing. I think you should repeat the Igg test when 6 weeks, at least, have gone by.
Is it possible to ask this partner to be tested?

Terri

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