HSV 2 Low Positive

[cooljerk23Spectator]

I was tested for all STDS from my PCP about four months ago – all tests negative (No numbers given for herpes tests).

As I am entering a new relationship I decided to get tested again from quest diagnostics, including for HSV 1 & 2.

The IGG test results:
HSV – 1, Negative 0.90
HSV – 2, Positive 1.80

I had one encounter with a sex worker between these two tests. The test was taken about 8-10 weeks since this specific encounter. The only act performed during this encounter was unprotected oral sex received by me (Mouth on my penis). The act lasted about 10-15 minutes.

My mom and sister both have HSV-1. I have had no symptoms of any kinds for HSV-1 or HSV-2 prior to or since this positive test.

What is the likelihood of HSV-2 transmission from receiving unprotected oral sex? I have been doing much reading on the forum and would like to obtain a western blot test to confirm a positive or false-positive. I cannot login to the e-visit website link so please instruct on how to go about this to schedule a consultation and get the western blot test. I live and work in New Jersey.

Thank you

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

the risk of acquiring HSV 2 from receiving oral sex is incredibly low! I’ve never seen this.
As to the western blot – have you written to me about this already via info at? I would suggest that you contact evisit for help. People are registering for appointments this weekend so I’m not seeing general issues – I’m so sorry you are having trouble with the app. If it asks for a email and password, I think they want you to make that up to register – can you try that?

Terri

• This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by  Terri Warren.

[cooljerk23Spectator]

What can be the cause of the antibody detection in this case?

Also what are the statistical chances this was a false-positive?

In your opinion was this a false positive?

For the e-visit website I need the provider link to register – no option is being given to create an account. I will contact the help services.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by  cooljerk23.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

There is probably a 70% chance that this is a false positive. This often happens because people have a protetin in their blood that is the same molecular weight as one of the herpes antibody proteins (the protein is unrelated to herpes). A provider link? I don’t know about that. I just went to the site and did not see that at all. yes, contact the help desk.

Terri

[cooljerk23Spectator]

Should I obtain another IGG test since the first one administered was negative? Will the results change based on fasting or non-fasting or other issues in my diet?

I understand the statistical chances are at 70% but based on your experiences and the encounter as described, with no symptoms prior to or after this exposure, in your opinion, do I have HSV-2?

I will try to get an e-visit consultation set up to confirm via the Western Blot, but as you can imagine I have been under extreme duress since this test.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

I wouldn’t bother with the IgG again but you can if you wish
Diet has no influence on the test
I think there is a very good chance you don’t have HSV 2

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew

Terri

[cooljerk23Spectator]

Can you evaluate on why the first IGG test would be negative and the second one low-positive if the protein detection is not impacted by diet? (For the first IGG test no index score was given).

Also I have been reading online that most people remain asymptomatic while carrying the virus and even first outbreaks are minor so they do not know if they are carriers.

Is there any way that symptoms can manifest in such a light manner that they can go unrecognized completely? What are mild symptoms of the virus? Essentially I am asking if it is really possible to not know you have it.

Since my low-positive result I have been monitoring my body and evaluating anything that could have been a symptom in the last 12-16 weeks so I would like to see if there is anything that I could have missed.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

I cannot answer that question for except to say that your negative may have been a high negative and the low positive might not have been very different from the first test – no way to know.

80% of people who have HSV 2 are not aware they are infected, that is correct. Symptoms can be quite mild, especially if previously infected with HSV 1.

Terri

[cooljerk23Spectator]

I have some follow up questions since our video consultation….

During the video consultation you informed me that the chances of acquiring HSV-2 from receiving oral sex, while not zero are essentially close to zero – I believe value you used to place odds was 1 in 100,000 – this is correct?

The IGG test performed was 4-5 months after my last sexual encounter that involved actual intercourse. A condom was used and the act only lasted for 2-3 minutes. If the aforementioned IGG test result is a true positive would it still fall in range of a false positive after this much time? In general, what is the transmission rate for ONE sexual encounter from a female to male with condom use?

The test results also indicate a negative value of 0.90 for HSV-1 – does this give more possibility that the protein is “tripping” the test incorrectly for HSV-2 since the HSV-1 value is also coming at a somewhat high, but negative level?

For this test my blood was drawn on a Wednesday morning but the test was not completed until the following Monday or Tuesday – I know this because Quest does not charge ones credit card until they “complete testing” (according to their website). Would this time period between blood draw and testing have an impact on results?

Since the test, as many people would be, I have been having a great amount of stress/anxiety. Still no symptoms of any kind that I can recall ever. Can prolonged stress/anxiety cause symptoms?

I have also been reading on many other forums that the IGG tests can bounce around – in some forums people have a low positive result and follow up a few weeks after and it is negative or equivocal – is this correct?

I know I am putting you on the spot, but once again based on the events described, no symptoms (mild or severe), taking statistics and your expertise in this field into account – do you believe I have HSV-2?

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by  cooljerk23.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

During the video consultation you informed me that the chances of acquiring HSV-2 from receiving oral sex, while not zero are essentially close to zero – I believe value you used to place odds was 1 in 100,000 – this is correct?

Correct

The IGG test performed was 4-5 months after my last sexual encounter that involved actual intercourse. A condom was used and the act only lasted for 2-3 minutes. If the aforementioned IGG test result is a true positive would it still fall in range of a false positive after this much time? In general, what is the transmission rate for ONE sexual encounter from a female to male with condom use?

Yes,some people just have a low positive that is a true positive
The odds of acquiring herpes from a single sexual encounter using a condom are very low though

The test results also indicate a negative value of 0.90 for HSV-1 – does this give more possibility that the protein is “tripping” the test incorrectly for HSV-2 since the HSV-1 value is also coming at a somewhat high, but negative level?

Not necessarily

For this test my blood was drawn on a Wednesday morning but the test was not completed until the following Monday or Tuesday – I know this because Quest does not charge ones credit card until they “complete testing” (according to their website). Would this time period between blood draw and testing have an impact on results?

No

Since the test, as many people would be, I have been having a great amount of stress/anxiety. Still no symptoms of any kind that I can recall ever. Can prolonged stress/anxiety cause symptoms?

No, but I think stress can cause people to over recognize normal body symptoms that they have not noticed before

I have also been reading on many other forums that the IGG tests can bounce around – in some forums people have a low positive result and follow up a few weeks after and it is negative or equivocal – is this correct?

Yes

I know I am putting you on the spot, but once again based on the events described, no symptoms (mild or severe), taking statistics and your expertise in this field into account – do you believe I have HSV-2?

I do not

Terri

[cooljerk23Spectator]

Hello Terri

Thank you for your guidance so far throughout this intense process.
Anxiously awaiting my WB results. In the meantime I did a re-test through Quest Diagnostics.
This time the HSV-2 reading was at a 1.60.
What is the probability that a 1.60 is a false positive based on the studies you have conducted?
Feeling a little better about this being a false positive based on a stable reading and decline. Don’t want to get my hopes up too much but its a relief that the 2nd test is stable in the false positive range.

[cooljerk23Spectator]

Mrs. Warren today I received my WB test results from you – Negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. WHAT A RELIEF!

I cannot express my gratitude to you and the Westover Heights Clinic. The past month has probably been the darkest period of my life and thanks to your clinic I was able to get guidance and obtain a Western Blot test to reveal that my tests were indeed false positives. I urge anyone and everyone to ALWAYS get confirmatory testing especially when testing for a life-long diagnosis such as HSV.

I cannot believe that the guidelines for these tests do not call for automatic confirmatory testing before giving results. During the weeks of my “grey area” status I realized this is not uncommon. Something needs to be done about this because I literally went crazy over the past few weeks.

Just an additional question not related to HSV … in regards to HPV when the term “cleared” is used does this mean the virus is gone forever and non-contagious or does it mean dormant and contagious/can be active again? The literature on this is not clear and I’d just like your opinion on this.

Once again I will never forget the help/guidance you provided me and will be eternally grateful to you and the Westoverheights clinic. The good work you do (irregardless of what an individuals confirmatory result is) cannot go without recognition, they should be doing news stories on you… you guys are THE BEST!

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

thank you! It was good to speak with you the other day
In regards to HPV. The answer is yes and no. We believe that the HPV in a healthy person is at levels that are not infectious. However, we also know that if someone becomes immunocompromised, sometimes the virus is detectable again. The literature is not clear because the science is not clear.

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew

Terri

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by  Terri Warren.

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