False Positive and COVID

[phatbike]

Hi, I am sexually active with one partner for over a year. I recently had a minor symptom on my penis (appeared to be chafing on the tip, no fluid secretion). As a precaution I decided to take a test; the results came back for a “HSV-2 Type Spec Ab, IgG w/Rflx” test at “above high normal, 6.79.” At the time of the test I was also positive for COVID-19. Could this impact the high HSV-2 test score? Should I get western blot, or is the high (6.79) test score rather definitive, meaning I am positive with HSV-2? Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

We don’t know if COVID impacts the IgG test for herpes.
Most people with an index value at that level will confirm with the western blot but certainly not all. I’ve had someone with a 17 IgG index value not confirm. And many with index values in the 8 range not confirm. So now, my recommendation is if someone has not had symptoms consistent with herpes, they need the western blot, regardless of index value.

Terri

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