Low positive HSV IGG 2

[desoh]

Hi Terri,
I am from Singapore and recently went for a full STD test one month post exposure and was shocked to get a low positive HSV Type 2 IgG Ab result.

The first doctor that reviewed my results told me not to worry about it and got me to get another blood test two months later and that if the values rises then I should be worried. He also mentioned that the only way of truly testing for HSV is through a swap.

Three months post exposure, my results came back as low positive again but this time another doctor reviewed it and told me the chances of it being a false positive is low , that the chances of two false positives are rare and that most likely I have HSV 2.

However this is contradicting what I read from other online sources. Furthermore I have not experience any symptoms commonly associated with herpes. My HSV 1 status is negative.
My test results is as follows (All 3 from Quest Laboratories) for HSV2 Type 2 IgG Ab (Negative < 0.9; Equivocal 0.91-1.09; Positive > 1.09)
27/09/2014 : 0.85 ( Took this test last year)
02/05/2015 : 1.35 ( 4 weeks post exposure)
29/06/2015 : 1.17 (12 weeks post exposure)

Sadly, I’m unable to get a western blot test here in Singapore. I would like to ask what are the chances of me having HSV 2 and also what course of action would you recommend me in confirming my status.

With regards
Desmond

[Terri Warren]

Statistically, there is an 85% chance that this is a false positive (any value between 1.1 and 1.5 has an 85% chance of a false positive). You can obtain a western blot. We’ve actually shipped testing kits to Singapore in the past, I believe. The draw kits can be shipped anywhere in the world but you would need to have someone to draw your blood, then it gets shipped back to us and we send it to UW. It isn’t cheap but it is doable.

Terri

[desoh]

Hi Terri,

Thanks for the quick reply, I’m trying to contact the various clinics I know of to see if I can get a Western Blot ordered but quite a number of them don’t even know about this test. On the off chance that I’m unable to order one, what would your advice be?

[Terri Warren]

I think the herpes western blot is only available in the US and Australia. I could be wrong though.
I can’t give you that advice because I’m not sure if you are infected or not. The most conservative thing to do would be to act as though the test is correct. If I were you, I would figure out a way to get the western blot so I would know for sure.

Terri

[Author]

Posts