Likelihood of a false positive or mistyped swab

[Throwaway757]

Hi Terri

Background:
I was diagnosed with HSV-2 via swab (ELVIS® HSV and the type was confirmed with monoclonal antibody microscopic immunofluorescence) in mid July. I didn’t have any HSV symptoms other than the pain while peeing (which went away after I started the antibiotics for my UTI) and the sores themselves. I didn’t have any flu like symptoms or swollen lymph nodes like I’ve read about online. My current partner is the only partner that I’ve ever had and he says that he has never tested positive for HSV2 either.
The nurse diagnosed me visually at the appointment and gave me an antiviral prescription to take while I awaited my lab results. I took the antiviral 3 times a day for 4 days but stopped once I noticed that there wasn’t any improvement. I got some of my lab results back that following Monday and saw that I had Strep B in my urine. It was then that I decided to see if I could treat the sores with an antibiotic ointment and saw immediate improvement. My theory was that it couldn’t be HSV 2 if it didn’t respond to the antiviral but responded to the antibiotic ointment.
To my surprise, I received another notification from the clinical saying that I had tested positive for HSV 2. They then called me and asked if I wanted another anti viral prescription for suppressive therapy. I told them no because I didn’t feel like it helped the first time. Their response was that it is normal for the antiviral to not help which really confused me. Why take something that wouldn’t help?
Fast forward to this month (September), I haven’t had any outbreaks, and my partner is still unsure how I would’ve gotten it because he hasn’t tested positive either. I decided to take an IgG blood test since it has been over 6 weeks and the test says that it is 99% accurate by that point. I was received my results back and I was positive for HSV-1: 14.00 and negative for HSV-2: 0.298. Is it possible that the swab was mistyped or a false positive?I’ve had the HSV-1 since childhood

[Throwaway757]

Additional info since I ran out of characters:

I originally had two ulcers directly across from each other on either side of my labia that would rub up against each other. I got a Brazilian wax the day before I was exposed so I assumed that it was a bacterial infection from that. I applied Neosporin twice daily with a q tip. The two ulcers never scabbed, the white portion of them just gradually got smaller and then completely disappeared.
As I said in my original post, I did have cold sores that were never officially diagnosed but they DID scab which is another reason why I assumed that it could have been something else.
I have had numerous people tell me that testing for antibodies 6 weeks post exposure is too early even though stdcheck says that anything post 6 weeks is conclusive. I would’ve expected at least a low positive by now. Especially since blood tests only miss 8% of HSV 2 infections. Should I go back at 12 weeks post exposure? Would it be worth getting the blot if the second test comes back negative.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by Throwaway757. Reason: Typo

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