IgG test results

[Confused]

Hi Terri,

I was recently diagnosed with HSV-2, and my question for you is related to when I may have potentially been infected.

Since I became sexually active, I’ve received STD panels annually and specifically request HSV-1/HSV-2 as part of the panel. All tests up through August 2017 (my last test prior to being diagnosed with herpes) have been negative.

In May 2016, my partner at the time disclosed that he was HSV-2 positive after I had performed oral sex on him many times. We never had vaginal intercourse, and I have not experienced any oral cold sores/blisters. However, I did develop chronic idiopathic urticaria, which one dermatologist told me may be a result of HSV exposure. My HSV IgG tests (which I began receiving at more frequent increments) remained negative.

In the fall of 2017, I reconnected with a man I dated in the past. He stated that he had remained negative for any STIs. We had vaginal intercourse without condoms, the last encounter being December 2017.

In March 2018, I had unprotected vaginal intercourse with a new partner. I asked him about his STI status/history and he said everything is negative and he’s never had any symptoms of an STI. I broke out in hives, along with angioedema after we had sex. Within 4 days of our sexual encounter, I developed a low grade fever, followed by shooting pain in my lower back radiating down my legs and then noticed a lesion on my labia. I went to urgent care and had the lesion swabbed within 24 hours of it appearing, and the results came back positive for herpes. I received an IgG test within 3 weeks and it was positive for HSV-2 as well:

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Ab IgG: 7.62 Index
Higher Than Normal
Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Ab IgM: <1.10 Tiger units

My question is, would my antibody level be this high if it was a new exposure (within 3 weeks)? Or is it more likely that this is coming from one of my prior partners?

[Terri Warren]

I would say it is more likely that it was from a previous partner but it’s remotely possible it is from the most recent partner. That is an educated guess.

Terri

[Confused]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your response. So I may understand, can you please tell me a little more about why you think it is a previous partner?

Also, if oral sex is performed on a partner positive for HSV-2, is it possible for the virus to present on the genitals (vs orally) even though there was no genital to genital contact?

[Terri Warren]

The number of the index value is quite high and unlikely with a new infection – the numbers climb with time infected.

I don’t understand this question – can you be more specific please?

Terri

[Confused]

Hi Terri,

I’m wondering if I could contract genital herpes from a partner that was positive for HSV-2 even if we did not have genital to genital contact. We never had vaginal intercourse, but I did perform oral sex on him. Would that have put me at risk for herpes presenting on my mouth/lips rather than on genitals since there was oral to genital contact?

[Terri Warren]

There is a tiny chance that you could acquire HSV 2 by giving someone oral sex but tiny.
What lab did your testing?

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

Terri

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Terri Warren.

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