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Hi Terri,
In February 2012, I experienced some inflammation and itching on the head of my penis and under my foreskin (I’m uncircumcised). It also stung a little when I urinated. It also felt tight and uncomfortable when I pulled back my foreskin. There was also an odorous discharge present. All the symptoms disappeared in one week. During that week, I saw a urologist, and he said it was just inflammation and prescribed me some topical Hydrocortisone. Since this incident, I have not experienced any abnormal symptoms in my genital area.
Since the urologist said it was just inflammation, I did not care to do any blood work for STDs. In April 2013, I randomly decided to get a full STD panel done. Everything came back negative, except HSV2 IGG AB was flagged at 1.63. I was devastated. My doctor told me I had genital herpes and advised me to practice safe sex. I couldn’t believe this happened to me. I was trying so hard to figure out how I got HSV2. Perhaps I got it from the last guy I dated back in January 2012. Please note that I abstained from all sexual activities since January 2012.
I read online that 1.63 could be a false positive reading, so I got tested again 9 months later (February 2014), and my HSV2 IGG AB result was 1.80. At this point, I was pretty sure I had HSV2.
Later on, I found out I could get a Herpes Western Blot test for a more accurate reading. In January 2015, I flew to Seattle to get the Western Blot done. My results stated “Low Level Antibody detected by Western Blot assay. Indeterminate of HSV. No antibody to HSV1 detected. Atypical reactivity was noted against proteins on the HSV 2 Western Blot.”.
Again, the only time I experienced any abnormal symptoms in my genital area was in February 2012.
I put together a timeline for you:
– 01/19/12: The last time I had sexual activity with someone
– 02/02/12: Abnormal symptoms in genital area (please refer to paragraph 1)
– 04/11/13: HSV2 IGG AB (Results: 1.63)
– 01/30/14: HSV2 IGG AB (Results: 1.80)
– 01/26/15: HSV2 Western Blot (Results: Low Level Antibody detected by Western Blot assay. Indeterminate of HSV. No antibody to HSV1 detected. Atypical reactivity was noted against proteins on the HSV 2 Western Blot.)Please note that I abstained from all sexual activities since January 2012.
Questions:
1. In February 2012, did I experience symptoms of HSV2 (genital herpes)? Could it have been a male yeast infection?
2. After reading my lab results, is there a chance that I have false positive readings for HSV2?
3. Should I get a third HSV2 IGG AB test done? It was quite difficult for me to get the Western Blot done, but should I do it again?I look forward to your response! Thank you!!
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If you stay indeterminate for 6 months, the experts consider you not to be infected but rather likely that you have a cellular protein that is similar to one that the western blot looks for as antibody to HSV 2. However, you have abstained from sex since 2012, so it is not possible that you are somehow incubating virus from a recent infection. It is my opinion that you are likely not infected.
We are conducting a study of a new diagnostic test for people who test with an indeterminate western blot. To find out more information, you can contact Rene at our office to talk about it. We can help you get another western blot as well, but I think it is too soon to do that. And I doubt, since you’ve had no new sex partners, that your test will be any different at this point.
Terri
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I don’t think repeating the IgG tests will give you anymore information. It would likely be another low positive. In this situation, what matters is the western blot. I wouldn’t waste my money. The low positive ELISA tests are only useful in driving you to the western blot for clarification.
Yes, contact Rene. We will send you a kit to take to a Quest lab near you where your bloods will be drawn and sent to us and we will disperse them to SIU. After we receive your blood, we will send you a check for $50 for participating. Do you have a copy of your indeterminate result that you can include in the box to us? We will not be able to share the results of the new test with you as it is completely experimental but your sample will help develop the test for wider clinical use, hopefully by fall or winter of this year.
Terri
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You know, those don’t really sound like herpes symptoms to me. It could be, yes, but I really doubt it.
Before you engage in sex with someone else, I really think that person should be tested also don’t you? I think you could describe what has occurred – just be open about it and clear.
BTW, I don’t think you need to wait 6 months from now because you haven’t had sex since 2012. You have waited long enough.You’ve used your last question on this subscription. If you have more to ask, please feel free to renew your subscription.
Terri
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1. I think you can get it any time now because your first test was so long ago. You will have definitely waited 6 months in between if you have it done now!
2. Yes. Yes. If you want it drawn locally, you can either order a test kit from UW to be sent to you directly or we can order it for you. If you did our study, if we had enough blood left over, which we should, we could send it to UW for you for a western blot
3. NO. Do the western blot again and let’s see what it says. I don’t think adding antiviral medicine to the mix is necessary right now.Terri
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but the issue is that you’ve not had any contacts since 2012, is that right? So nothing new has happened that would change the test result.
Terri
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Let’s get another western blot. If it is indeterminate also, I would be happy to write you an email indicating that it is extremely unlikely you are infected with HSV 2 if these two blots are negative.
Terri
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I’m happy to help! Remember that if you need a western blot, we at the clinic can arrange for you to be drawn in your own city at a Quest lab near you.
Terri
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Yes, of course. If you decide that you would be willing to do our study of people with indeterminate western blots, please call Rene at our office.
Terri
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Yes, your subscription ran out about three questions ago.
Terri
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Did we order the tests for you? If yes, I can call UW and ask them to put the two blots next to each other and evaluate them. This is unclear, for sure. We know this is not due to new infection since you’ve not had sex since 2012, right?
Terri
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I think it would be far cheaper for you to become a phone patient of ours, provide me with your information and I can call UW. They may ask for another test but let’s try the cheaper and simpler way first. I think we could talk on Tuesday if that’s a good day for you.
Terri
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You need to call and set up an appointment to speak with me on Tuesday. You can call Monday to set up that appointment. They will tell you what times are available and then ask you how long you would like to schedule it for your appointment. We have 10, 20 and 30 minute appointments available for phone consultations. If all we need to do is order Western blot again or just talk to each other about approaching the University of Washington to reevaluate your previous Western blot then probably a 10 minute appointment would be adequate but if there’s more you’d like to discuss you may want to consider a slightly longer appointment. I would encourage you to call on Monday morning because sometimes those Tuesday appointments fill up pretty quickly. I look forward to speaking with you on Tuesday.
Terri
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