Low Positive HSV2 test

[confused123]

Hi Terri,

I should first start off by saying that Aug 2011 I tested positive for HSV1 which scared me but my doctor assured me that most people have HSV1 from sharing things. About 2.5 years ago I had sex with someone that I was not in a monogamous relationship with and the condom broke but we had been drinking so didn’t notice. At least, I didn’t. When I realized it after the fact I freaked out! I was always responsible and couldn’t believe it had happened on the one night that I decided to have my first one night stand. I know this man and we were sort of friends so I didn’t feel like I was throwing total caution to the wind. That was Dec 2012 and I have been COMPLETELY celibate since then. I finally got around to having my annual exam that Aug 2012 (part of me was scared to go) and the results came back negative. I don’t have the exact #s though b/c my doctors office was paper based at the time and I’m honestly embarrassed to call. Last year I went for my annual exam and again negative. HSV1 = 24.10 and HSV2 = .35. This year I went for my annual exam and HSV1 and 2 came back positive. HSV1 = 3.72 and HSV2 = 1.72. I was devasted and asked my OBGYN if this could be a false positive and she insisted that the test is almost never wrong and the odds of it being wrong were slim to none. I asked if I could get retested and she said I could come in and use the same test– HSV1 and HSV2 IGG, AB Herpeselect. I never went back. I started reading online and saw that false positive happen and how could this doctor not know that? I came across this site and was finally ready to get some advice. What are your thoughts? What should my next steps be? I’ve never shown any symptoms. I just get tested to make myself feel better when they all the STD panels come back negative– it just gives me peace of mind. And that exactly what I am missing now– peace of mind!

Thanks so much,
Confused123

[Terri Warren]

It looks to me like you had two different labs run the two tests. Your 1.72 index value for HSV 2 is in the low positive range and definitely needs confirmation with another test, preferably the western blot. I’m not sure why your doctor doesn’t know this but it is clearly in the 2015 CDC STD treatment guidelines – perhaps she has just not seen these guidelines yet?
We can help you get the western blot drawn at a lab near you or you can send to the University of Washington for a test kit that you can take to your doctor to draw, they would spin it down and ship it back to UW, either way, you need the test for sure.

Terri

[confused123]

Thank you for the quick reply, Terri! I’m not sure why she didn’t know it could be in the low positive range. This was my first visit to this OBGYN. All the other tests were run by my Primary Care Physician. She moved out of state so I decided to break up my PCP and OBGYN visits so that I could have some who specializes in women’s health now that I’m getting older (I’m 32). I would definitely like to have a Western Blot drawn at a lab near me. Can someone contact me from your clinic? Also, is it possible for the virus to be suppressed for a few years before popping up on a test? Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

If you want a western blot, you will need to contact our clinic directly and then we can arrange for the western blot to be drawn in your state. If you had the virus, it would likely show up on an antibody test, even if you had no symptoms, close to the time you were infected, like within four months.

Terri

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