hsv2 (oral?) questions..

[hsv2beornot2be]

Good morning!
I’d need some help/clarification on how to read some hsv2 blood test results…
Some background info:
1) I performed unprotected oral sex (MSWM) mid october last year (w/ some minor mutual masturbation), and was exposed to semen
2) 2 weeks after exposure, got hsv2 igg low positive around 1.9 and negative Immunoblot confirmation (Quest)
3) 1 month after exposure, got hsv2 igg low positive around 1.8 and negative HSV-2 IgG Supplemental Test (LabCorp)
4) 3 month after exposure, got higher hsv2 igg low positive around 3 (yikes!), and negative HSV 2 IGG INHIBITION, IA (Quest)
5) I haven’t noticed any hsv2 related symptoms anywhere
6) I checked one std panel from much earlier and igg was below threshold, so igg is definitely measured as going up in last couple of months

Obviously, the increasing igg number is the primary concern so far, but I am not sure how to weigh this compared to negative confirmations, maybe testing too early, low oral transmission rates etc.
What’d be the best way to proceed? if anything I was thinking about another round of tests (same types or Western blot) around the 6 month mark

Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

If you have a negative supplemental and inhibition assay, I think it is extremely unlikely that you have HSV 2. You could do the blot at any point now if you want more reassurance.

Terri

[hsv2beornot2be]

oh that is great to hear! Thank you Terri for the clarification!!

If I understand this correctly, the supplemental tests have very rare false negatives, but do have false positives and the blot would be the most helpful in that scenario?

I am still obviously very curious about what could be behind my increasing hsv2 igg numbers over the last couple of months. Are there known/possible factors? The only out of ordinary thing that comes to mind for me in last couple of months is that I had covid Moderna booster shot around the same time as above potential exposure, but that seems far fetched?

[Terri Warren]

You are correct.

We don’t know if COVID vaccines have an impact on IgG tests or not.

Terri

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