HSV2 High Positive

[ScaredandUpset]

Hello Terri,

I have been reading this forum now for a few weeks. Last year (Jan 2022) I unexpectedly received a positive HSV2 blood test. Like many I had no idea I likely wasn’t tested for this before, or that hsv can present asymptomatically. Last year I took two tests, and finally got the courage to take a third. I was really hoping to see the number decrease, as I have been hoping and praying this isn’t happening to me. I have high anxiety and low levels of depression and I am unsure how I will cope with this diagnosis. Here is a breakdown of my results.
1st rest done with LabCorp: 1/19/22 (results only took two days)
HSV2 (IGG) – 4.76
Supplemental – positive
2nd test done with Quest: 1/26/22 (results took 7 business days)
HSV2 (IGG) – 4.56
Inhibition – NEGATIVE
3rd test done with Quest: 12/22/22 (unsure how many days, as I have not seen the physical results, just informed over the phone after calling to check in)
HSV2 (IGG) – 7.94
No inhibition done, I believe, due to high positive.

1. It’s likely appropriate to assume this is not a false positive, since over the span of 1 year the number doubled in size. Correct?
2. If the western blot is financially difficult for me to obtain, do you think these results are worth the extra effort and funds?
3. Have you seen someone who’s taken multiple tests and the numbers increased, but still received a negative blot?

To my knowledge, I have no symptoms. I have the regular issues that most women experience from such a sensitive area, that maybe are mild symptoms I never noticed before. Never had an outbreak generally described has herpes.
My sexual history unfortunately does line with a high risk, as I have had unprotected sexual encounters.

Thank you for your time.

[Terri Warren]

1. It’s likely appropriate to assume this is not a false positive, since over the span of 1 year the number doubled in size. Correct?
I think it is likely that this is a positive but I’ve certainly had patients with these index values whose western blot was negative.

2. If the western blot is financially difficult for me to obtain, do you think these results are worth the extra effort and funds?
It is so hard to know the answer to that. This is a life long infection and at some point, it might be worth it to confirm this result since you have had no symptoms.

3. Have you seen someone who’s taken multiple tests and the numbers increased, but still received a negative blot?
Yes. I had someone with a 17 who did not confirm

Terri

[ScaredandUpset]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your reply.
I am not sure if my previous post counted as all my questions, so please let me know.

I do however have the following follow up questions:

1. I picked up my physical test results from my 12/22 test and the inhibition test was done. However, it is still coming back negative. What are you thoughts on the quest inhibition test vs the labcorp supplemental? As I posted previously my 1st test showed positive supplemental but my last two inhibition show negative. I have had a total of three tests over the last 12 months. Two of which were only one week apart back in Jan of 2022.

2. I know in previous posts I’ve read, you stated false positives come from an unknown protein that is mistaken for the hsv virus. Is it likely that all antibody tests for hsv 2 will show positive due to this in the future, even if I am truly negative?

I want to keep hope that I may not have to live with this life long diagnosis. I do plan on getting the WB when I can come up with the funds. This whole experience has changed everything for me. I wish I had been better educated on these things, as I had no idea about all this. My knowledge on herpes stopped at getting painful blisters, not seemly healthy people passing on a nearly “invisible virus”.

[Terri Warren]

1. I picked up my physical test results from my 12/22 test and the inhibition test was done. However, it is still coming back negative. What are you thoughts on the quest inhibition test vs the labcorp supplemental? As I posted previously my 1st test showed positive supplemental but my last two inhibition show negative. I have had a total of three tests over the last 12 months. Two of which were only one week apart back in Jan of 2022.

Both confirmatory tests are deeply flawed. However, it is good that the inhibition assay was negative. Hopeful

2. I know in previous posts I’ve read, you stated false positives come from an unknown protein that is mistaken for the hsv virus. Is it likely that all antibody tests for hsv 2 will show positive due to this in the future, even if I am truly negative?
If this is indeed a false positive, then yes, the IgG tests will continue to falsely positive, at least part of the time anyway.

I want to keep hope that I may not have to live with this life long diagnosis. I do plan on getting the WB when I can come up with the funds. This whole experience has changed everything for me. I wish I had been better educated on these things, as I had no idea about all this. My knowledge on herpes stopped at getting painful blisters, not seemly healthy people passing on a nearly “invisible virus”.

I hope you will get the blot at some point. I suspect you may not be infected, given the negative inhibition assays.

Terri

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