False positive?

[Mgrant78]

Hi Terri,

I was recently tested at my gynos office for stds (recently as in September 17th) and received my results October 10th. I tested negative for hsv 1 (I don’t know the value) and positive for hsv 2 at 1.33. I’ve never had any symptoms or any outbreaks. I’ve also never noticed anything suspicious with my partners and haven’t received any phone calls about them being positive. Do you think this could be a false positive?

I ordered a western blot testing kit from the university of Washington, but I wasn’t sure if there if a waiting period before I can take it. My last sexual encounter was October 2nd.

Also, my doctor told me not to be worried and to just keep these results in mind for when I decide to have children. Do you think I should be worried?

Thank you for your help!

[Terri Warren]

I don’t think you should be worried until you find out if your western blot is positive. At 2.3 there i a 50-50 chance that this is a false positive result. If you were my patient, I would advise you to try to determine the HSV status of your partner on October 2nd. If that partner is negative for HSV 2 then you should look at the timing of the partner before that and wait 16 weeks from that contact. You had the HSV 2 positive result before this most recent partner so unless this partner happens to be HSV 2 positive, we don’t have to worry about that person’s input into the western blot

In terms of being worried, if you are positive, then you are infected and infectious to others and though I don’t think you should worry exactly, I think you do need to disclose your status to future partners and consider daily antiviral therapy to reduce your risk of infecting others.

Terri

[Mgrant78]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your quick response! I tested at 1.33, (you gave me the percentage for 2.3), does this mean my false positive odds are greater?

Also, if this is the same partner that I’ve had since August (before the test) do I still need to wait 16 weeks? What happens to the western blot results if i don’t wait 16 weeks? I’m just nervous and worried and would like the put this whole thing to rest! Do you know of any doctors that perform the western blot test in New York?

Thank you!!!

[Terri Warren]

Whoops, that was typo! And then I followed it up with an erroneous percentage. At 1.33 there is an 85% chance of a false positive. Sorry about that!
We can order the western blot for you even if you live in New York through a clinical trial we are conducting. If you are interested, you just need to set up a phone appointment with us.

If you know that you regular partner is negative for HSV 2, you do not need to wait. but if you don’t know that this person is negative, then either he needs to test and figure that out OR you should wait.

terri

[Mgrant78]

Hi again!

That’s such a relief!! Granted it’s not a certainty, but a weight off my shoulders none the less.

I actually ordered a lot from the university of Washington that should be arriving next week. Can I still participate in the trial? What are the hours to call?

[Mgrant78]

I order a kit not a lot* sorry!

[Terri Warren]

The study looks at the false positive rate in people who live in the five states that do not allow shipment out of state of blood samples (New York is one and I’m wondering who is going to draw your blood and ship it). For more information, you can contact Rene in our office. The study includes having your blood drawn at a Quest lab in New York. There is a charge for the test.

Terri

[Mgrant78]

I slept with someone else right before my test, but they’re not answer my calls so I will assume I should wait 16 weeks from that encounter (it was September 11th, so that would put me around the holidays, correct?).

During the 16 week waiting period, am I able to have sex with my current partner if we use protection? Or should there be no sex at all during this period? I’m sure he will have questions and I want to make sure I have all my bases covered.

Thanks so much for all your help!!

[Mgrant78]

Hi Terri!

Another quick question- if I find out my partner from October 2nd is not positive, and any additional partners I may have had were before my test on the 19th, can I go ahead and take the western blot test? I’m just confused as to when I need to count the 16 week period or if I need to count it at all.

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

If you find out that any partner you had sex with in the past four months is not positive, then you can get the western blot now, yes. In terms of your current partner, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to use condoms until you get a clearer answer, no. Has that partner been tested?

Terri

[Mgrant78]

Oh I definitely will be using condoms until I have a definitive answer! Better safe than sorry. He’s planning on getting tested soon. Provided he is negative but I still am waiting on the 16 week waiting period, am I able to have sex during this time or do I need to abstain completely?

Also, how long will the clinical trial last? I called the office and left a message but never heard back. I’ll call again!

[Terri Warren]

Hmmmm. Not good that you didn’t hear back, I will double check on that. Do you know with whom you left a message? The research department? The person you need to speak with is Rene. But if you are able to get your blood drawn and shipped out from New York by someone else, you don’t need the study.

You can have sex but certainly use condoms and I would be extremely careful – you could actually be infectious and infect someone else. I don’t think that is likely, though.

Terri

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