HSV2 Positive Results – Next Steps

[Matt]

Hello,

I have a question for you about my recent STI results. I am a 58 year old single male. I was tested at a lab in Mexico.

Along with the usual STI tests, I requested the HSV 1 and 2 tests because I have had multiple partners (4) in the last year. I suspected that I might have HSV1 as I had cold sores as a teenager and in my early 20s. I do not recall having a cold sore in the last 25+ years. I am currently not experiencing any HSV symptoms but thought it would be a good idea to get tested for HSV. Prior to the last year I was married for 28 years and mostly monogamous and neither my ex-wife nor I experienced HSV symptoms throughout the course of our marriage.

The test results from the lab read:

Ac. Anti Herpes I IgG 6.15
(Method: QUIMIOLUMINISCENCIA)
Ac. Anti Herpes I IgM 0.54
(Method: Immunoensayo enzymatic (ELISA)

Ac. Anti Herpes II IgG 6.15
(Method: QUIMIOLUMINISCENCIA)
Ac. Anti Herpes II IgM 0.11
(Method: Immunoensayo enzymatic (ELISA)

Now, I am not sure what to do. I find it hard to believe that I have HSV2 since I have no symptoms. Should I get another test? Is there a possibility that this is a false positive? If I do have HSV2 and no symptoms and no outbreaks can I still spread HSV2 to sexual partners? Should my previous partners get tested?

Thank you in advance

[Matt]

Update: After receiving my results, I contacted the lab with following question and their response (written and replied in Spanish, translation by Google):

Me: Can you confirm the numbers, 6.15 for Ac. Anti Herpes I igG and 6.15 for Ac. Anti Herpes II lgG are correct? It seems strange and statistically unlikely that the results of two separate tests would have identical values. Could you please confirm with the lab technician to be sure?

Lab: …consulting with the Chemist, he tells me that the reagent does not identify between 1 and 2, and only the totals are reported as a result.

I’m not sure what this means. It seems to discount the value of the entire test.

Any guidance you can provide is greatly appreciated! Thank you

[Terri Warren]

I honestly can’t make sense of this. from your initial results, the test did look type specific but now, from the chemist, I don’t know.

Are you able to do the test in the US?

Terri

[Author]

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