IgG HSV 2 level is 0.90 at 17 days post possible exposure, should I retest?

[Soworried]

In 2013 when my husband and I separated I had a complete STD panel including IgG and IgM for HSV 1 & 2. IgG was negative and IgM was negative three times. I had protected sex with a man who later told me he had Herpes so I wanted to be sure I was negative.

May 9 and 16, 2015 I had unprotected sex with the man I’ve been dating for a few months. He is a regular blood donor but was never tested for herpes. In addition to intercourse he gave me oral sex. I did not give him oral sex. On May 26th I had such a bad headache I could barely lift my head off the pillow, painful body aches all over, joint pain in my knees, ankles, elbows, sore throat, 101.5 fever. My primary care doctor said it was the flu but it didn’t feel the same as when I had the flu before. Then I remembered reading herpes can cause flu like symptoms. On June 2, 17 days after unprotected sex, I had my gynecologist run the full std panel and everything was negative but here are the herpes results:

IgM HSV 1 & 2 positive (don’t know the levels)
IgG HSV 1 negative (don’t know the level)
IgG HSV 2 level is 0.90

Gynecologist told me I’m positive for both types based upon the IgM results and that the IgG HSV 2 level of 0.90 is higher than what it was in 2013. Now I’m so worried about kissing my children, confused if I’m really positive, if I should be retested and when, feel so stupid for not asking him to use a condom, and so embarrassed.

Saw my primary care doctor today who ordered lab work testing for mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis (paternal aunt & granny had it), fifth’s disease and Lyme disease. Mayo Clinic had a page on herpes that said mono could cause false positives on the IgM tests and rheumatoid factor could cause false positive on the IgG test.

Questions for you:
1. Should I assume I have type 2 based upon the 0.90 level at day 17?
2. Should I be tested and if so when ? Using the IgG test again or Western Blot?
3. Are there any other infections or conditions that can cause a false positive IgG HSV 2 result?
4. With the antibody tests, if I gave 3 different samples to 3 different labs at the same time is it possible to receive 3 different levels? Hoping the answer is ‘yes’ so that maybe my borderline level could actually be lower.
5. Is it possible for the IgG level to be lower than 0.90 if I’m retested in 4-6 months? I just do not know if IgG levels ever decrease over time.

Thank you so much for responding to theses questions! The man I’m dating says he never had an outbreak but is procrastinating contacting his doctor to be tested, which is causing me concern, especially with an “elevated for me” IgG level of 0.90 at only 17 days.

[Terri Warren]

Questions for you:
1. Should I assume I have type 2 based upon the 0.90 level at day 17?
No! It is extremely unlikely that you have a value of exactly 0.90 as that is the cutoff for negative. Have you actually seen the test result? Could there be a < sign before the 0.90? 2. Should I be tested and if so when ? Using the IgG test again or Western Blot? Since the IgM is a terrible test and has many false positives, I would certainly never recommend that test! The CDC says don't use it - don't know why your provider ordered that test but it was an error. I would ignore it. Only test using IgG. 3. Are there any other infections or conditions that can cause a false positive IgG HSV 2 result? You don't have a positive HSV 2 result! 4. With the antibody tests, if I gave 3 different samples to 3 different labs at the same time is it possible to receive 3 different levels? Hoping the answer is ‘yes’ so that maybe my borderline level could actually be lower. Again, 0.90 is not positive! 5. Is it possible for the IgG level to be lower than 0.90 if I’m retested in 4-6 months? I just do not know if IgG levels ever decrease over time. see above. I believe this has been misinterpreted for you. Even in the weird world where you would have the exact cutoff value, it is still negative, not even indeterminate. Terri

[Soworried]

Many, many thanks for responding yesterday! You enabled me to relax and go to sleep with a calm mind and stomach!

I am asking my boyfriend to have an IgG for types 1 & 2. If his results are positive, when would you recommend an IgG retest for me?

[Soworried]

Hi Terri, thanks again for you response. In addition to the question about when you would recommend me getting a second IgG test I have another question.

On May 26th, 10 days after unprotected sex, I woke-up with a horrible headache. 101.5 fever, sore throat, body aches and joint pain and lower back pain. My children weren’t sick with anything nor anyone at work. In scouring the web for info before finding your site, I read that women often have back pain with their flu-like symptoms after becoming infected with herpes. The monospot and Lyme tests are negative. My rheumatoid factor is 15 with normal being 0-20. Other than being tested for CMV and toxoplasmosis and possibly strep, I’m becoming anxious that my symptoms are because of herpes and that the IgG was negative because it was performed at just 16/17 days. Additionally, it’s probably my mind playing trucks on me but now I feel like my labia is irritated. No sores or bumps have appeared anywhere.

Do you think that negative result could be a false negative because it was too soon for the antibodies to develop?

When should I be retested?

Boyfriend is dragging his feet to get tested which increases my concern.

Thank you Terri!

[Terri Warren]

Hmmmm. He really needs to be tested. He doesn’t need to go in for a visit, you can order the test online yourselves and it is very fast and easy. I use healthcheckusa.com. Should be easy breezy and will help set your mind at rest. I think it is not good that he won’t be tested! How long is your relationship, anyway? What is his hesitation?

The negative could be a false negative due to being tested too early, yes but without genital lesions, I think herpes could be a stretch here, honestly. But we won’t know until he gets tested whether you are at risk or not.

Terri

[Soworried]

Hello Terri,

My boyfriend’d doctor ordered only the IgM even though he requested the IgG. His IgM was negative for both types 1 and 2; however he was tested 5-6 weeks after intercourse.

I gave him the healthcheckusa site but he is not making the time to go to the lab. I think he would prefer to not know if he is positive since he never had any symptoms.

Today, 7 weeks post possible exposure I found a bump or pimple when showering. I went to my gynecologist who took a swab for a culture but isn’t expecting it to be positive since there wasn’t any fluid.

I cannot remember exactly when but 3-7 days ago I yanked a long pubic hair from the same side as where the bump/pimple appeared. The gynecologist said it did not look like “classic herpes” but because of the positive IgM results and the 0.90 IgG type 2 result, she couldn’t say it was not herpes.

She did verify that the actual IgG was 0.90.

1. I’m attaching a picture of the bump hoping you might be able to give me your opinion if you think it is herpes?

2. I’m giving up on my “boyfriend” ever getting an IgG performed and have not not will I be intimate with him. Should I have another IgG performed and when? Or should I wait until 16 weeks and have a Western Blot through your clinic?

3. I did test positive IgG for CMV and I do not want to chance a false positive HSV 1&2 IgG result which is why I’m thinking about the Western Blot to have a conclusive answer.

Thank you so very much for this opportunity to ask these questions! I just don’t trust my gynecologists experience with herpes and really appreciate your answers.

[Terri Warren]

The picture is too fuzzy for me to see anything.
If you want the absolute best herpes test available now, I would recommend a western blot yes.
And I would bet a tone of money that your exact IgG result is not .90
If you don’t know your boyfriend’s HSV status and you keep having sex with him, then there is no way to know for sure if you could be acquiring herpes, right?
Almost all adults are positive for CMV – not sure why that test was done.

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions please feel free to renew

Terri

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