HSV1 positive HSV2 low positive

[bellaboo44]

Hi Terri –

So on 1/28, I had unprotected sex with someone I had in the past. I noticed the past two weeks I had painless bumps in my mouth and a spot on my tongue, which freaked me out so I got tested. I usually get tested every year via a papsmear, but decided to go to Labcorp to get the 10 test panel. My results were as follows:

HCV1: 36.9
HCV2: 1.36

I have had no other symptoms that would indicate HCV2, I had a sinus infection at the beginning of March but that is it.

1) do you think there is a chance the HSV2 could be a false positive?
2) would I be a good candidate for the WB blot?

[Terri Warren]

1) do you think there is a chance the HSV2 could be a false positive?
2) would I be a good candidate for the WB blot?

There is an 85% chance that this is a false positive and you are an excellent candidate for the herpes Westerblad for clarification of your HSV-2 status. I would encourage you to obtain that test, but not sooner than 12 weeks after a sexual encounter that is unprotected. During the 12-week waiting period, I would strongly suggest that if you get any abnormal skin changes in the genital area, that you get them swab tested. I’m not suggesting that you will have skin changes, just suggesting that you get them swab tested if you do.

Terri

[bellaboo44]

Thanks Terri.

I will wait the 12 weeks to set up the WB blot. I also wanted to mention, I tested positive for chlymidia which just came to my results. I am completely gutted that I am going through this right now it doesn’t seem real.

1) would this additional STI have an affect on my eligibility for WB blot? (I will take an antibiotic to get rid of it)
2) would I be able to work with you and your study to do the WB blot do you think?

Thank you so much!

[Terri Warren]

1) would this additional STI have an affect on my eligibility for WB blot? (I will take an antibiotic to get rid of it)
Not at all
2) would I be able to work with you and your study to do the WB blot do you think?
Certainly! Just follow the link on this website to “get a western blot”

Terri

[bellaboo44]

Thanks Terri.

I just had three additional questions.

1) is testing 8 weeks after too soon and should I re test in a few weeks?

2) If my IGG value for HSV2 goes up does that mean it’s positive?

3) If one of my former partners test positive for HSV2 should I accept the result?

Thank you again.

[bellaboo44]

Hi Terri,
Just to add to the question, would a papsmear show an abnormal result if infected with HSV2 even with no symptoms?

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

1) is testing 8 weeks after too soon and should I re test in a few weeks?
It is too soon for the western blot but almost OK for the IgG test

2) If my IGG value for HSV2 goes up does that mean it’s positive?
No, it depends on how much it goes up

3) If one of my former partners test positive for HSV2 should I accept the result?
I wouldn’t if I were you.

Terri

[user8892]

Thanks Terri
What type of swab test and I want to take 1g daily suppressive but they keep telling me that’s too high and longterm unhealthy. I’m getting push back on my request for 1g daily and stabbing with no sores (which I never had, just intense burning, itching and irratated/flaky skin. What are your thought?

During an outbreak I was told to take 2g in morning and 1 gram 12hours after that and 1 gm 12 hours after that dose. I’ve very confused with this.

[Terri Warren]

The problem is that taking Valtrex daily for an extended period of time has the potential to impact the western blot results falsely IF you’ve taken it regularly since a new infection. When did you start taking it after the January encounter? You should be off Valtrex for a total of 12 weeks before taking the blot.

If you are indeed infected with HSV 2, which I doubt, 1 gram of valtrex daily is not too high.
With an outbreak, you can take 2 grams all at once, then 12 hours later, 2 grams again, for one day.

Terri

[bellaboo44]

Hi Terri,

I renewed to ask just two more questions.

First, would a papsmear be able to detect the cellular changes related to HSV even if asymptomatic?

Second, can herpes on the penile shaft present as one singular bump? Or since it’s a singular bump would it be an ingrown hair?

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

If herpes happened to be active at the time of the pap smear, it might but if not, no.
It could be a singular bump but it could be lots of other things as well. Generally ingrown hairs don’t happen often on the shaft of the penis.

Terri

[bellaboo44]

Thanks for the response Terri, I really appreciate all you do.

I retested again two weeks after and my results are this:
HSV-1: 39
HSV-2: 1.23

I honestly just retested to make sure the value didn’t rise immensely for HSV-2.

Question : Should a drop from 1.36 to 1.23 give any valid reassurance that this could be a false positive?

The supplemental is not being run by Labcorp right now for HSV2 testing which is not ideal because I know you have said in the past there is a good agreement between a negative supplemental and a W Blot.

Question: Is there a different test available you think I should try before I complete the Western Blot? I am now 10 weeks post exposure.

Thank you so much.

[Terri Warren]

Those two numbers are so close together that I don’t think the difference is significant. The good news is that the numbers are not going up and I think that’s what you need to focus on. There is no other test that I would suggest before taking the Western blot, no.

Terri

• This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Terri Warren.
• This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Terri Warren.

[bellaboo44]

Hi Terri –

I had a question. I continue to test low false positive on the IGG tests but have had no known outbreaks.

My question is- since I have HSV1, if I had and HSV2 outbreak it would be non primary and easily missed. Two weeks after my risky encounter, I remember having a few red bumps on my upper thigh, they were close together. These were just bumps, not blisters, and went away in a day or two and were painless. I did also test positive for chlamydia at the time unknowingly.

My questions are:

1. could this have unknowingly been my first nonprimary outbreak?

2. Am I okay to do the western blot with over 12 weeks of no contact?

Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

1. It could have been but no likely
2. Yes

Terri

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