I tested positive for HSV 1, but not a current outbreak that doesn't align?

[mm1976julyMember]

I don’t understand the results I received, I went in to the doctor as I had lesions that looked like blisters near my genitals. This was the first time I have had anything like this so they did a blood test and the results are that I tested positive for HSV 1 as a past exposure, but didn’t have a current outbreak. I was negative for type 2. I understand you can have type 1 in the genitals, but from what the test is saying the lesions were not a outbreak, so I am trying to determine how to understand the results and the risks as I have a boyfriend of over a year that from what I have read is at risk.

Thank you so much.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

An antibody test will not help you determine if you have new herpes or not, it will simply tell you what was going on four months ago and backwards. Has your boyfriend been tested for HSV 1 and 2? If not, he should be. If this is new infection from him, it will not have shown up in the antibody test from blood. What you needed was a swab test from the lesions, was one done? The blood test will tell you nothing about whether the outbreak was herpes or not.

If your boyfriend tests negative for HSV 2 and he has had no other partners, then HSV 2 is not a concern here. The genital blisters could be caused by HSV 1. Without a swab test, it isn’t possible to sort out where your HSV 1 infection is. Have you had cold sores in your lifetime? If yes, then the HSV 1 antibody is coming from that.

Do you have other questions for me?

Terri

[mm1976julyMember]

Hello Terri,
Thank you so much for your response. To follow up on your responses: My boyfriend is being tested for both. I did have a swab test done- but don’t have the results yet. I have never had cold sores in my life.

So my next two questions which I believe are covered in the fee (but please let me know if not and I will pay more):
1. In reading all of your posts/material – if my boyfriend test is negative for HSV 1 that means that based on 4 months ago he didn’t have it and that he could still be at risk and should be tested again in 4 months, as I have put him at risk given my status?
2. If he does test negative what are the statistics/risks to him both orally (kissing, etc) and genitally? We are trying to figure out the best way to understand all the facts so we can determine what it means for us.

Thank you again for everything!!!

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

1. If your boyfriend tests negative for HSV 1 then that means that you did not get this from him, if I a reading your last results correctly (actually interpreting them correctly). It also MAY mean that he is vulnerable to new infection from you. The problem is that the usual screening test for HSV 1 misses 1-2 out of 10 cases. So he could actually be infected and it isn’t showing up. In a way, it would be better if he was positive for HSV 1 on this screening test. If he is the giver of oral sex to you, you could have acquired this from his mouth, even if he did not have a cold sore at the time. Has he ever had a cold sore in his lifetime? If you two continue to have sex and he does test negative for HSV 1, there really isn’t much point in him testing again in 4 months because it will always be a moving target, if you see what I mean.

2. The answer to this question will be easier once we get the swab test results back and also his antibody test results back. We don’t know at this point what you have genitally. If it is HSV 1 on the swab test then we will know you have HSV 1 genitally and the transmission rate to him would be lower. Let’s wait until we know the results of your swab test and his antibody test before we try to come up with transmission likelihoods, would that be OK?

You have another question coming with your original subscription. Let me know when you have more test results we can discuss, OK?

Terri

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