HSV 2 Low Positives

[Confusedllama56]

Hi Terri I spoke with you a few weeks ago about my results. Here’s the latest.

I was anxious about unprotected sex and got tested and was surprised by a positive HSV 2 result.

July 15
HSV 1 IGG >8.0
HSV 2 IGG 2.0
HSV 2 Inhibition undetermined because the repeat Igg was negative.

I retested and here’s the latest.

August 11 (4 weeks after first test)
HSV 2 IGG 1.27
Inhibition test pending

My IGG dropped but I’m still feeling extremely anxious as I’m waiting for the inhibition results. Can you give some insights on the likelihood of false positives? For context, I’ve never experienced symptoms for HSV2. I’ve had cold sores since I was a child. In 2019, I tested very positive for HSV1 (55.5) but negative for HSV2.

I understand the only way to get accurate confirmation is the western blot 12 weeks out but can you give me your professional opinion on my IGG numbers? Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

Many people get a positive IgG the first time around, then Quest does the inhibition assay, but it can’t be done because they do another IgG first and it is negative. I would bet a lot of money that you are actually negative for HSV 2. There is good agreement between people who get the negative inhibition assay (it can’t be done because the second IgG is negative) and people who subsequently get a negative western blot

Terri

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