GHSV Outbreak 1 Year Ago; 4 Negative Test Results Including Western Blot

[blakewedekind]

Hi Terri,

Might have an odd one for you. In October of 2022 (12 months ago) I experienced what can only be described as a genital herpes outbreak. Perhaps 10 or so sores or clusters on my genital/crotch area, and one cluster on my lower back. Matched the look of herpes, visually inspected by doctor (albeit, at outset, when developing) and opinion was herpes. Previous sexual encounter before outbreak was 3+ months.

During that outbreak, I had a swab test performed and an Igg test performed. Both negative.

Three weeks ago (September 2023, ~12 months post-outbreak) I had an Igg test performed. Results were negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2.
One week ago I had the Western Blot test performed, results were negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Why would I be seeing negative results on all of these tests, despite the fact I had a herpes outbreak a year ago? This should be enough time to develop antibodies, based on what I’ve read.

If these results are accurate and I have low antibodies, but have the virus, does this reduce the likelihood of transmission?

A small part of me is also wondering if I had a shingles outbreak on my genitals, although that seems unlikely…

I am open to re-testing if you think that is needed or helpful, as well.

Thanks for your opinion!

[Terri Warren]

I was thinking shingles when I read your post. It does happen. And if the swab test of the lesions was negative, that makes a lot more sense. Or it could have been a bacterial infection of some kind? I’m not clear that further testing would be helpful at this point UNLESS you were taking long courses of antiviral meds when you took the blot

Terri

[blakewedekind]

Thank you for the response, that’s what my doctor reasoned as well. I forgot to add, I had taken valacyclovir for 3 consecutive days (9/16/23-9/18/23), stopped when the Igg test came back negative, then waited a week, then took the blot. (I took it for those 3 days because I started seeing someone and still assumed it was HSV). Do you think that would have influenced the blot? The duration was so minor I had assumed it wouldn’t. I hadn’t taken any antivirals before that since my initial outbreak a year ago.

[blakewedekind]

Oh – and if it was shingles, should I be worried about transmission when there is no outbreak? I’m not sure if transmission prevention measures would need to be taken as compared to HSV. Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

Three days of Valtrex would not influence the testing, no.
I would trust the blot in this situation.
Shingles is not transmissible the way HSV is, I would not worry about that if indeed your symptoms were due to shingles.

Terri

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