Extremely confused and at a lost, help understanding pls!

[extremelyworried]

I have been in a long term relationship for 2 years now. I had one unfaithful encountered (I am quite gutted by it really) whilst my partner (gf) was away on holiday overseas. I am very paranoid about any STI, and so feeling a bit of a itch, I decided that I could possibly be infected with HSV2 from the unfaithful encountered. I should let you know that this was protected as I did used a condom and at no point was it ever removed. Prior before the moment, she informed me that she was STI free and have never contracted any STI. In any event, feeling a bit paranoid I walked into the urgent care as my doctor didn’t have any availability, and have an HSV2 blood test conducted. Perhaps I should have mention that I exhibit or show no signs or symptoms of an infection. No rash. No bumps. No redness. No unbearable itching. No fever. None of the traditional signs associated with HSV2. So i assumed that I could be one of those with the infection but without the signs. So the test at the urgent care came back with a value of 0.99, in the questionable range. This was done June 19. I waited and have another at my doctor office on July 13 and it came back with a value of 1.22. The doctor said I was positive for the infection. I was given no medication as I do not have any signs or symptoms of the infection. I contacted the young lady and informed her of this news and ask her if she was certain she does not have the virus, and she said no. My question is, how should I interpreted this test score? And what should I do. Do I in fact have the infection (no signs or symptoms)? Would you draw the conclusion that, yes, this is definitively positive? I didn’t trust my doctors knowledge on the subject so I may to go elsewhere for further testing or something. I order the WB test kit and awaiting its arrival. I have yet to mention this to my partner and plan to once she gets off work. I am extremely gutted and devastated by this news, and don’t know how to carryon really. Your thorough and detail insight and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

[Terri Warren]

I’m not at all clear that you should be discussing this with your partner quite yet. If you want to tell her to confess, that’s one thing. If you want to tell her because you think you might infect her, that is another. At your level of antibody, there is an 85% chance this is a false positive. You have ordered the kit – do you have a plan to get your blood drawn, spun and shipped? Are you in the US? I sense a bit of a British tone to your post. Another important thing is timing. How long ago was this encounter? Since your value is rising a bit, I want to be certain that you don’t test too soon to detect seroconversion.

Terri

[extremelyworried]

Cheers Terri for your quick response. I do live in the US and certainly do have a plan to get my blood drawn, spun and shipped. I will be heading back to my personal doctor and have the blood drawn and sorted out for shipping once I receive the kit. The encounter actually happen a little over a month ago. I did rang the girl in question and have a thorough conversation with her, of which again, she informed me that she does not have HSV2; or any STI for that matter. I suppose I was I educated by my doctor that this could “possibly” be an infection that happened in a past relationship, say years ago, and I am now showing antibodies of it. I have had quite a few girlfriends in the past, and so I am not sure if this would have happen then or perhaps with this recent encountered. I am massively confused, as my doctor in no way ease my confusion. What do you suppose would happen if the WB test is a test too soon? Would you have any idea as to the outcome of that? Perhaps you can help me understand, but I thought a recent exposure to the infection would carry a much higher value? That mine was a bit low, and as you rightly observe, (frighteningly) rising a bit, should I interpret this as infection of a past relationship? What do you suppose would be the reason for a false positive? That I exhibit no signs or symptoms, and certainly the value has changed, would your medical understanding that this is leading towards a higher value? What if no symptoms then, how should I understand this? I have mentioned it to my partner for sheer bit of honesty and to certainly protect her. She recently had her STI kit done and it all came back negative. She was forgiven and rather understanding (to be my surprise). Thanks Terri, I shall await your reply. Many thanks for your helping in understanding and sorting this out.

[Terri Warren]

Do you know for certain that your partner’s testing included an IgG antibody test for herpes?
If this is new infection, the numbers will likely keep rising (though not every time).
The western blot, if drawn now, would give you information about your past – it will not yet give you information about a contact one month ago. You need to wait 4 months from the contact to have the most certain western blot. So the blot now would give our information about your herpes status 4 months ago and back. Does that make sense?
We honestly don’t know exactly what causes false positives.

Terri

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