HSV 2 Herpeselect & Western Blot Conflicting Results

[leeds37]

Hi Terri,

I first want to thank you for all of the help you give on here as it really means a lot. For me, I have a bit of a confusing story that I can hopefully explain as clearly as possible.

To give a background to my story, I am a male in his 20’s that has pretty much practiced safe sex my entire life. I’ve had sex with six girls and have always used a condom except for two times. Once was with a girlfriend back about six years ago, and the other time was July 2014. I’ve never really had any symptoms up until about December of 2014. I had a small, painless sore on my shaft, so I went to my GP and Urologist and had them look at it. Both said it did not look like herpes, but gave me the full panel STD blood work. Everything turned out negative, other than Herpes Type 2, of course. It was listed as 4.16. I still have the paperwork but it does not specify the exact type of test, other than the IGG Serum part of it. The test was done by my GP in January 2015. I accepted it for what it was and for a few weeks I tried to get on with my life as normal (as possible). I decided to do a follow up blood test with a local place around where I live called Any Lab Test Now. I just wanted to make sure that if I had it, that I definitely had it. They do the Herpes Select IGG test. About a week later, I got the results, and it was negative. I was absolutely shocked, and confused. I brought the paperwork to my GP and was told that I should believe the results but he admittedly could not explain the difference. About two weeks later, I decided to retake the same test from Any Lab Test Now, and it was negative again. Relieved, I carried on as usual. (The two tests through Any Lab Test Now were done in February 2015 about 2-3 weeks apart from each other).

Around the first week of March 2015, I noticed some redness on my shaft, although this was in a different location than the first sore I saw. It looked like a rash. Then a few weeks after this, I noticed a very similar painless sore in the same location as the one I saw back in December. I went back to a different Urologist, and spoke to him. He assured me it did not look like Herpes, but gave me the test anyway. This test came back positive, at 3.7. I received the results in April 2015. Shocked and confused again, I had no idea what to do. The same day I got those results, I went back to Any Lab Test Now and got another Herpes Select Test IGG done, and just a few days later, this test came back negative.

[leeds37]

Sorry for the long post, but there is still more…

At this point I was completely confused, and had absolutely no idea what to do. I decided to go back to my GP and speak about all of the results with me. He wanted me to see a doctor that specializes in infectious diseases, so I paid a visit to one in May 2015. I spoke to the Doctor, and he explained that he was confident I had herpes based off what I told him as well as the paperwork I provided him with (I brought my FIVE test results to him). He explained to me that blood tests for Herpes were not very accurate because they all had to do with whether or not the virus was active at the time of the test. This is the first time I had heard of this, and have yet to find any information confirming this, other than the IGM tests they do. But to clarify every test I had was IGG, not IGM. So based off of what I had researched, I didn’t feel too confident about my consultation with him. I also asked him about the Western Blot test, but he assured me that this was for HIV only. I decided not to argue with him.

Ultimately, I decided to order the Western Blot test. I had to summon up the courage to explain everything to my GP, and eventually had my blood drawn and sent to the University of Washington for the Western Blot test. I got the results back about a month ago in June, and they were negative. From everything I have read, I understand that the WB test is the most accurate and most reliable test out there. So I figured I was in the clear.

Now about four days ago, I am seeing something again. It is very similar to what I saw back in March where I had some redness and looks like a rash, but no lesions or pain.

I am even more confused than ever and just looking for any kind of help possible. Is it possible it could be any other kind of condition that I am seeing? I noticed through all of my testing that I have yet to be tested for Syphilis, although I understand how rare it is. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

I doubt that you have syphilis but there is an epidemic of syphilis in some parts of the country so you could, I guess.
I would most certainly go by the western blot results. It is considered the gold standard for every research study we do. To get into most any study that we conduct, you have to have a positive western blot.

And I don’t believe your infectious disease physician is correct about the antibody testing. The index value has nothing whatsoever to do with whether virus is active at the time the blood is drawn. I know, I know, he is an infectious disease doctor and I’m a nurse practitioner, but as I have often said, the brains of nurse practitioners are just as good as doctors, but this nurse practitioner has nothing to think about except herpes, so if something happens in that world of herpes, I’m all over it. If something happens in the world of an ID doc, it could be HIV and cholera or bacterial infections of various types and they have to know about all of that – I just need to know about herpes (and some other STDs). It’s a small knowledge world and I feel all over it.

I feel quite certain you don’t have HSV 2. Can you tell me which laboratories were used for the testing? It should be on the actual result print out – like is it Quest or LabCorp? It isn’t the company that ordered the test – they outsource their lab work.

Terri

[leeds37]

All three negative herpeselect tests were done by Quest. One of the positives was done by LabCorp, the other positive doesn’t have where it was tested.

Do you think another Western Blot test would be useful? The symptoms I have don’t burn, or hurt. I’ve noticed some minor itching but that could be anything.

I’m just really confused and the last thing I would want to do is to give it to someone else.

[Terri Warren]

I don’t see a reason to do another western blot – what do you think a second western blot would add to this situation?

Terri

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