HSV-1 High IGG Questions

[marriedman1981]

I was tested via blood draw for HSV 1 and 2, thru labcorp via an online service. The results came back as negative for HSV 2, but Positive for HSV-1, with a number of 31.20. I am married for 8 years and I have never been unfaithful to my wife. Neither has she. I told her about these results this morning. I have never had any cold sores or genital blisters of any kind, ever. I do know my father, uncle, and both grandparents have had cold sores. I feel very confused and a little scared by all of this. I don’t know if this is genital or oral. Again, never a single symptom in my life.

1. Is it worth getting retested by my primary, or is this pretty conclusive?
2. Are the HSV-2 results conclusive?
3. Is this IGG test via labcorp accurate?
4. Would I need additional, more advanced testing?
5. The online service stated they can give me an RX for HSV-1 – what info do I need about sex with my wife?
6. Does the high number indicate a long standing infection?
7. Does my wife need testing for either HSV 1 or 2?

I’m afraid because we have 2 small children. I’ve never had cold sores, never had genital sores either. Can I kiss my kids? Do I need to avoid certain activities with them? How can I protect my wife and kids from this?

Please help.

[Terri Warren]

1. Is it worth getting retested by my primary, or is this pretty conclusive?

This result is entirely conclusive. For anything above 3.0 you can be certain you have infection
2. Are the HSV-2 results conclusive?
If you have had no other partners besides your wife for 8 years and she has also had no other partners then you can consider this test accurate with 92% certainty. The IgG test picks up 92% of HSV-2 infections compared to the gold standard Western blot.
3. Is this IGG test via labcorp accurate?
See the answer to question two

See the answer to question two
4. Would I need additional, more advanced testing?
See answer to question two

5. The online service stated they can give me an RX for HSV-1 – what info do I need about sex with my wife?
If you have not kissed anyone or had sex with anyone besides your wife I don’t really see a need to start treating your HSV one infection with anything. You’ve likely have this for a very long time I’m not clear how starting treatment now be beneficial. Also, has she been tested to see if she has type I infection?
6. Does the high number indicate a long standing infection?
It definitely does.
7. Does my wife need testing for either HSV 1 or 2?
If she is concerned about requiring type one from you, then she could be tested if she wishes

Terri

[marriedman1981]

My wife took a blood test for both HSV1 and 2 thru her health care provider. they said she was “exposed to HSV 1 but did not have an “active” infection” (whatever that means. HSV 2 came back negative. I am not sure if this is the IGG or IGM test, I’m assuming it’s the IGG.

Questions.

1. since we both have HSV1, never had any outbreaks, it’s impossible to know both where the infection is and when we both got it, correct?

2. We don’t need daily therapy do we? If one of us ever has any outbreak anywhere, we can just a cream or something? what I’m asking is, there really isn’t any day to day action that we need to take is there?

3. Is there anything we need to know about how to be with out children? we share glasses with water sometimes and kiss them all the time, how can we protect them if we ever shed the virus without symptoms?

4. I spoke to my Dr and he basically told me HSV1 is basically not anything to ever worry or think about at all, and that an insane amount of the population has it. Would you agree?

5. As far as sex goes, we wear condoms to prevent pregnancy. do we need to be aware of anything else besides that? unprotected oral both ways? It’s just hard to gauge since neither of us has ever had any symptoms, don’t want anything to change in our sex life if it doesn’t have to.

[Terri Warren]

1. Correct
2. Correct, no day to day action is required.
3. Be normal with your children. If one of you has an oral outbreak, avoid kissing them when it is present
4. about 50% of the US population is infected with HSV 1,correct
5. Don’t change a thing!

Terri

[Author]

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