Indeterminate HSV WB Result

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Hi Terri

I would like to explain my situation as clear as possible. I’m a male. mid 20 s.

January 2014: In a drunken night I engaged in oral sex (used condom) with someone with unknown status. Three weeks later I had 10 panel STD testing and was negative for everything.

October 2014:I had vaginal sex (used condom)with a girl I was dating at the time. Also we engaged in mutual oral sex and masturbation without a condom during one night.

September 2015: I decided to have another 10 panel test because I had those episodes bothering me.
Results were:
HSV 1 IGG type specific AB < 0.90
HSV 2 IGG type specific AB 1.15

Negative results for all others.

I read your blog and decided to get the western blot from U Washington. Results:
Low level antibody detected by Western blot assay. Indeterminate for HSV.

I will cite the HSV WB Interpretation that came with the report. “Full antibody profiles for HSV may take 12 – 16 weeks to develop especially if antiviral medication was given. We suggest a convalescent specimen be sent if recent seroconversion is suspected. Please indicate that the second specimen is convalescent serum so the two specimens can be run in parallel.
This test was developed and it’s performance characteristics determined by UW Medicine.”

I have not engaged in any sexual activity since the October 2014 event. And have never taken any antiviral medication such as acyclovir. However I have been taking fluoxetine 20 mg for the past 4 and a half years and began taking atorvastatin 20 mg recently for my high cholesterol.

This whole situation has been terrible to handle. I have been dealing with depression for a great part of my life however this episode has made things a lot worse.

Both my doctor and social worker have been helping cope with this situation. My doctor said that if a year has passed and the WB is indeterminate it’s negative ;just better to forget about it and move on.

I would like to know your opinion on my status.

Thanks you

[Terri Warren]

I would totally and completely agree with your doctor on this one. We would interpret this as negative as well. Some people have a cellular protein that artificially trips the screening test AND makes the western blot indeterminate. Please – forget it and move on. But before you do, please consider joining a study we are doing at our clinic of people who have indeterminate western blots. Rene in our research department has all the info at 503-226-6678.

Terri

[Closure]

Thank you for your reply. I will contact the number provided to participate in the study.

1) Are there any reasons as to why this cellular protein would be tripping the WB now? I mean why hasn’t it influenced previous herpes screenings that i have had prior to these events.

Fyi: I had chicken pox as a child and also have never had any outbreaks in the past year.

2) Not only do i have some mixed feelings of rejection that might occur in future relationships, the biggest fear that i have is the following:

I read in a std check website that hsv2 could cause blindness.

I have concerns that i might aquired hsv2 (through my mouth) when performing oral sex on the girl from october 2014.

I know these are a lot of information but if you could clarify the connection between hsv 1/2 and the potential for blindness i would really appreciate it.

Thank you

[Terri Warren]

1) Are there any reasons as to why this cellular protein would be tripping the WB now? I mean why hasn’t it influenced previous herpes screenings that i have had prior to these events.
Well, it did trip one screening test, right? That’s why you had the western blot done.

Fyi: I had chicken pox as a child and also have never had any outbreaks in the past year.

2) Not only do i have some mixed feelings of rejection that might occur in future relationships, the biggest fear that i have is the following:

I read in a std check website that hsv2 could cause blindness.

I have concerns that i might aquired hsv2 (through my mouth) when performing oral sex on the girl from october 2014.

I know these are a lot of information but if you could clarify the connection between hsv 1/2 and the potential for blindness i would really appreciate it.

first of all, herpes blindness rarely happens any more since we have antiviral therapy. A person can get herpes in the eye either by the virus traveling along the trigeminal nerve to the eye or somehow infecting the eye shortly after new genital infection, like contaminating it with an unwashed hand.

Terri

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