Low positive hsv2 igg

[SoConfusedpleasehelp]

Hi Terri,
A few months ago A new partner and I decided to get online ordered STD testing done. Everything was negative however my HSV-2 IgG came back 1.14. Of course I freaked out, went to my doctor the next day and he ordered the herpselect test which came back 1.10, which was equivocal range if I’m not mistaken. He then ordered per my request a western blot. I nature got tested, and the Western blot results came back positive for HSV-2!!! I was devastated, I went and saw an infectious disease doctor Who said that he could not explain my lab results, he said that my IgG levels were very low, and the chances of me having had a positive HSV-2 test was very low, and said that I could retest with Western blot in 3 to 6 months for confirmation. Let me also say that I live a very healthy lifestyle, and I’ve never had any signs or symptoms of any skin conditions, no ulcers no lesions anywhere, I rarely get a pimple. I have tested negative for HSV1 with every test. I’m 33 years old and have had unprotected sex with three partners, all of which I was in relationships with. As far as I know none of them have had herpes. But I have been doing a lot research and reading online, and I’m just so confused by all of this. I also spoke to someone at the University of Washington and that physician also said that she did not have an explanation for my low IgG levels, however she also recommended that I retake the Western blot in a few months for confirmation.

1. My question is has there ever been situations where The Western blot was incorrect the first time? Is there any real reason for me to go through paying nearly $300 again for retesting?
2. Is it possible for someone to get exposed and develop hsv2 IgG’s, but never actually developed the infection. Is that person considered “infected”. I’m asking, whatis considered infected?
3. I know your clinic has vaginal swab PCR testing to see how contagious someone as if they are in fact infected. How many months of testing is it for?

[Terri Warren]

How did you get a western blot? And do you have a copy of the results? Does it say it was done at the University of Washington?
If your western blot was really that and was positive, I do not believe that it is an error, no. And no, if you have antibody, you are both infected and infectious to others. The presence of a positive western blot is evidence of infection.
If you become a phone patient of ours, I can contact the UW and ask for them to verify this blot if that would be helpful.
We do offer PCR testing. Each PCR is $75 if you do them individually or you can put seven swabs into one vial and know the results of a weeks worth of swabbing.

I can understand that you must be completely taken aback. I have, however, seen people with an index value of only 1.1 confirm with western blot in the past.

Let me know what else I can do for you.

Terri

[SoConfusedpleasehelp]

Yes the test was done by the University of Washington in Seattle. Yes I have the test results, and it says positive for antibody HSV-2, negative HSV-1.
1. What do you mean verify the test? What does that mean exactly? When I called the technician at the University of washington virology clinic, they told me they couldn’t give me any specifics about the test, and that it was “just positive”. There was no index value, nor could they tell me how many positive bands there were. I’m confused as to how the test is interpreted.

2. I have read on other forum questions there are other proteins that trip the test to be positive. What proteins are these?

3. Do you recommend that I take the wb test again like my infectious disease doctors have suggested? They said that they could retest everything again in three months. I even spoke to a physician/professor at the university of Washington who also advised that I could take the test again “for confirmation”, stating that she could not explain why my IgG levels were so low. She said that there was 85% chance that my blot Could have negative, but it was confirmed positive. But like I said even she’s stated that I should retest for confirmation. Very confusing to me…

4. As far as PCR testing, when you say $75 per test, Does that mean per swab? If I am truly infected it would be nice to know how often I am shedding the virus, which would mean multiple swabs over multiple months. Is there a way of getting a test like that done? At least two months worth of testing?

5. determined to prove that I am negative, I Set up appointments with my doctors, got the test ordered quite rapidly. However looking at my lab results, the IgG being so low, do you think this is a new or old infection? Last Sexual partner was 6 months ago.

6. Being that I have never had any signs of the infection, is it possible that I will never have signs of the infection? Are there cases that infected people never in fact, ever have an outbreak?

[Terri Warren]

1. What do you mean verify the test? What does that mean exactly? When I called the technician at the University of washington virology clinic, they told me they couldn’t give me any specifics about the test, and that it was “just positive”. There was no index value, nor could they tell me how many positive bands there were. I’m confused as to how the test is interpreted.

OK, you have already spoken with them which is what I could do for you about the test, so that would not be helpful, just to be sure it was your name and birthdate that sort of thing. There are no index values, just positive or negative. They look for specific protein bands associated with the HSV 2 antibody

2. I have read on other forum questions there are other proteins that trip the test to be positive. What proteins are these?

That is true for the screening tests, not the western blot when it is called positive. Sometimes that is true for an indeterminate western blot when only one band is present

3. Do you recommend that I take the wb test again like my infectious disease doctors have suggested? They said that they could retest everything again in three months. I even spoke to a physician/professor at the university of Washington who also advised that I could take the test again “for confirmation”, stating that she could not explain why my IgG levels were so low. She said that there was 85% chance that my blot Could have negative, but it was confirmed positive. But like I said even she’s stated that I should retest for confirmation. Very confusing to me…

I think the only advantage of retesting is to confirm that the lab has your actual sample and that it has not been confused somehow with another person’s sample.

4. As far as PCR testing, when you say $75 per test, Does that mean per swab? If I am truly infected it would be nice to know how often I am shedding the virus, which would mean multiple swabs over multiple months. Is there a way of getting a test like that done? At least two months worth of testing?

Yes, per swab. The problem is let’s say you pooled your swabs and did one vial per week (seven swabs in one vial) for two months. If any vial was positive, you would not know how many days in that week you were shedding – one or all seven. If you did not shed in two months, then you would know that you shed infrequently but it certainly would not mean that you don’t shed virus.

5. determined to prove that I am negative, I Set up appointments with my doctors, got the test ordered quite rapidly. However looking at my lab results, the IgG being so low, do you think this is a new or old infection? Last Sexual partner was 6 months ago.

Honestly, there is absolutely no way to know that at this point.

6. Being that I have never had any signs of the infection, is it possible that I will never have signs of the infection? Are there cases that infected people never in fact, ever have an outbreak?

Yes, I have patients who test positive by western blot and have never ever been able to recognize an outbreak, that is true.

Terri

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