HSV-2 Test result question

[sadandscared2018]

Hi Terri,

Is it possible a 19.6 reading from quest diagnostic (herpeselect IGG test) a false positive? The possible exposure I am worried about was 7 months ago, but a condom was used. I am a male, and have not had symptoms to my knowledge. About 3 months ago I had an itch between my thigh and groin that I thought was just due to friction/irritation. Was a 2-3 inch red line basically, did not see any sores or other typical HSV-2 marks.

I have read that some results up to a 3.5 have a chance of being a false positive, but nothing about numbers this high. I am going to follow up with my GP. Would a western blot be helpful? Or is this result definitive? If I am infected, what is the chance of passing this on to a woman, with or without a condom? Assuming no sores or other marks are present?

[Terri Warren]

I have never seen nor heard of a result that high being a false positive but UW had one that was 14 and a false positive, compared to western blot.The risk of transmission without condoms and no antiviral medicine is about 10% per year – condoms reduce transmission by 96%. Antiviral therapy daily also helps to reduce transmission and both methods of transmission reduction make intercourse quite safe but are not 100% perfect

Terri

[sadandscared2018]

Thanks for your response. Is there a cutoff range for this test? Just asking in case there is a result that might indicate the test was not performed correctly. Does this value give any indication if the infection is relatively recent (1 month), vs 7 months vs longer? Also, is the red line/crack I mentioned one of the atypical symptoms?

Thanks,

[Terri Warren]

The red line could be herpes but unlikely. There is no cutoff that suggests that the test is not run correctly, no.

Terri

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