Hsv2 false positive

[CrazyBeautiful22]

Hello. I tested for hsv2 in July of 2014. To my surprise it came back positive. I picked up a copy of results and it says Hsv2 DNA IGG 2.7.. From quest diagnostics. I was in complete shock. I had been in a 3 year relationship, which ended back In March of last year. I had 2 partners after my break up which was one time for both and they were brief protected encounters. I think I tested roughly 6-7 weeks after last intercourse.After I got the results I told all 3 partners about this and to go get tested specifically for herpes 2. They all 3 came back negative. Ive never shown symptoms of herpes and I was last tested back in 2010 I believe.. With negative results. I’m a little confused about the dna part of the results as well. Not sure what that means. Ive done a lot of research on testing and have saw a lot of info in false positives under 3.5 for igg testing. I’m just hoping to get more insight on what to do about this since I don’t know for sure if I am positive or not. Or maybe how to get a western blot or a biokit? Or should I retest with another igg?

[Terri Warren]

I would not bother to test with another IgG test. If it is a false positive, it will usually stay positive on the IgG test. You definitely need a western blot. This is especially true since your recent partners have tested negative. It is, of course, possible that you contracted herpes before these partners and did not transmit the virus. So truly, all options are on the table.

You can get the western blot in one of two ways: you can contact the University of Washington for a test kit to be sent to you for your provider to draw blood and send it back. The other way is to become a phone patient of our clinic and we can order the test for you to be drawn at a lab near you. Either way, you REALLY need it.

Terri

[CrazyBeautiful22]

Thank you for your input, this def gives me hope. Could u tell me more about the results and what hsv2 DNA IGG mean? Well the DNA part really, I don’t get what that means. What kind of test does that sound like? I read online that quest also does a inhibition assay test on low positives as well.. Not certain if they did on mine but I was thinking maybe that’s what the DNA part meant? This is all just very confusing to me. I’m sorry. Could u also tell me about transmission rates from female to male without symptoms… As I said before I was with my ex partner for 3 years unprotected and never passed it( if really positive). I will def call the clinic and become a phone patient with you and get a WB.. Have u seen cases like this before with igg numbers being around 2.7 and testing negative on WB?

[Terri Warren]

I don’t know – that is really combining an antibody test (IgG) with a test for the actual virus (DNA). Completely confusing to me.
I would not recommend the western blot if I thought the inhibition assay was a good test, let me just put it that way.
Yes, I have seen people test positive on the IgG at that level and test negative on the western blot.
The transmission rate between an infected male and an uninfected male having sex twice per week without medicine and without condoms is about 4% per year – that is, 4 men would get infected. HOWEVER having said that, the studies are all done on couples where herpes is known to be present in one partner so that’s not the case with you.

Let’s just get the blot ordered and see what happens. What state do you live in?

Terri

[CrazyBeautiful22]

Ohh okay… That makes more since of the DNA part. Still very confusing I agree and I don’t know why the would order that. That def gives me hope about the western blot. I live in Tx. What should I do first? Thank you so much for being understanding and helpful. There’s some pretty rude people I’ve dealt with, esp the clinic that diagnosed me. I’ve read a lot of the forums you have been on and you have helped a lot of people! You’re brilliant when it comes to this stuff 🙂

[Terri Warren]

Well, I think you should contact the clinic and set up a phone consultation appointment and we’ll get the western blot ordered. We can certainly do that in Texas. There should be openings this week, I believe.

This exhausts our three questions. If you need more questions answered please feel free to renew your subscription.

Terri

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