Low positive HSV2 test followed up by Equivocal confirmation test

[BroncoFan]

(Heterosexual male)

Hello, the other day I went into urgent care just to get a STD panel done. I have had a few partners the previous year. And though most of the time a condom was involved, other times it was not or broke. I have never had any symptoms of HSV2 and would always ask the sexual partner if they have had any. Of course they could have been lying but they all said no. To this day I still have not had any symptoms. When I got the results back I was negative for all STDs except HSV2. I had a positive index of 1.18. The test was conducted by Quest. Although I had no symptoms the doctor suggested I get a swab test done as well as a secondary confirmation test (HSV2 IgG with relfex to HSV2 Inhibition). I still do not have the swab test results yet but I assume they will be negative since I had no visual symptoms (knock on wood). The second IgG test I took came back with an index of 1.04. Since this is in the equivocal range I am confused with how I should interpret my results. The last sexual encounter I had was 17 weeks ago so I believe I have given enough time for the AB to develop. Also last year in November, a lymphnode in my neck swelled up to the size of an orange. The doctor removed it and found that it was not cancerous. He thought it may have been from cat scratch fever (my cat had bitten me a few weeks earlier) but they were unable to culture and prove that definitively. It took the remaining lymphnodes in my neck about two months to decrease back to normal size. Is it possible that this type of inflammation is what is giving me these index values or is it possible that the HSV2 is what caused the massive swelling in my neck? I realize if the swab test comes back positive then I have HSV2 but do you have any other thoughts? Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

I think this is very likely not representative of a herpes infection, especially since your value went from low positive to equivocal. And you waited 17 weeks from a concerning encounter to test. If you are worried, you could do the western blot but I would strongly suspect it will be negative.

Terri

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