Negative Western Blot- Still Worried

[Amg123]

Hello, I have posted in this forum before. I had a non consensual possible exposure back in January. The guy has never had symptoms but won’t test to see if he is positive. 5 weeks from exposure I had flu like symptoms and a low grade fever on and off for 4 days, with burning in back, buttocks happening during that time. From there I had genital burning and burning in arms, legs, hands, back. Two weeks later there was a tiny cut looking spot on perineum but went away after a couple days. I tested negative 5 weeks post exposure igg and igm. I tested negative for both strains 10 weeks post exposure with igg, but no index values. At about 13 weeks post exposure, I got my blood drawn for the western blot test. My results were negative on the western blot. I was so excited but I am still so nervous and unable to shake the feeling I still have it. I keep getting this tiny open spot in the same area of the perineum every couple weeks that goes away in 48 hours or so. I also have still experienced burning mostly in my L hip area and buzzing in my legs. I haven’t been sexually active. I don’t know why this keeps happening. I got a swab test from 24/7 lab kits and swabbed the tiny open spot when it showed up last time and that was negative, but the spot is so small and doesn’t have any fluid coming out of it. I am worried the swab wasn’t good because I sent it over a weekend and I’m not sure how long those swabs are good for. I read somewhere that they are only good 48 hrs unless refrigerated. I can’t get into my doctor when the spot comes back because it goes away so quickly. Can I trust the western blot being negative and move on? Have you had any western blots come back negative when they are really positive? I didn’t take antivirals and I waited almost 13 weeks. Should I do another test? Should I have waited 16 week? I just can’t shake this.

[Terri Warren]

You could put a PCR on your kitchen counter and leave it for a year and it would still be valid. That’s from Anna Wald, head of infectious disease at UW.
Trust the western blot. There was no need to wait 16 weeks. You need to work on changing what you think and feel about this so that you can move on.

Terri

[Amg123]

My additional question… Have you had anyone test negative on the western blot after 12 weeks and no antivirals?

[Terri Warren]

well, yes, of course. I’ve seen many many people wait 12 weeks from a concerning encounter and test negative at 12 weeks with no antivirals. I might be confused about your question

Terri

[Amg123]

Whoops I’m sorry. I meant to say have you seen people negative on the western blot after 12 weeks and not being on any antivirals, end up actually being positive? I just keep getting that open split in skin so often and having tingling. I just can’t imagine what else would cause all of those symptoms. I’ve had every symptom out there.

[Terri Warren]

I’ve not
With these symptoms, you need to have them swab tested. If you get, say, four negative HSV swabs, then they are due to something else.

Terri

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