Positive Total IGG with Negative Type 1 and Type 2 IGG

[mj]

My wife and I of 9 years are getting divorced, and since she is positive for Type 2 herpes, I wanted to get tested to understand my potential risk to future partners down the road. She was on medication for the majority of our marriage, and we never had intercourse close to any outbreaks (she had 1 outbreak during those 9 years). I have never in my life had a sore either orally or genitally, nor have I ever had any symptoms of either virus, but I understand that males can carry the virus without symptoms, so I want to be a responsible adult and understand the type of risk a future partner would be taking.

I just got my results back and Type 1 IGG and Type 2 IGG were both negative (undetectable amounts). However, the doctor also gave me a Total IGG Score of 5, which he said was positive, but he admittedly didn’t know what it meant, and so he reached out to a colleague, who ultimately told him that it means I had exposure to another type of the herpes virus at some point in my life, but that I definitely do not have Type 1 or Type 2. I had extremely bad cases of Chicken Pox and Mono as a child, but he didn’t think that it could be from that, but if those would be detected in the total IGG, then that might explain it.

My doctor essentially said because I’m negative on 1 and 2 IGG I have no moral obligation to tell a future partner, but does this seem fair, and if so, should I be concerned about that Total IGG score of 5? My doctor just didn’t give me any type of clear indication on what that Total IGG really meant, and what future risks it could present.

Thanks in advance!

[Terri Warren]

I’m not sure what that total score is honestly but I can tell you that the only important test results are those of the type specific IgG which is negative for both. You are under absolutely no obligation to tell anyone about this. However, you may be more attractive to a potential partner now that you know your herpes status and it is negative.

Terri

[mj]

Thanks, Terri. Are you saying you’ve never heard of a total IgG score, or just that you’re not sure what my total IgG score could mean? My doctor just said that it tests for all members of the Herpes family, and that it was picking up something that was neither 1 nor 2, and that I shouldn’t be concerned about it.

Finally, the last time we did have intercourse was approximately 2 weeks before the blood was drawn, with her on medication, and me wearing protection. Do you recommend I have one more igG test 3 months from now to be 100% sure, or do you think with the results I just got after being in the relationship for 9 years is sufficient? If it helps, my doctor also told me that the IgM also came back negative on Type 1 and Type 2, so although I know the IgM test is not reliable, that would seem to support no recent infection, and thus I’m wondering with all of these results combined, if I’m good to go, or if I should do one final test after 3 months.

This is a great service that you’re offering – thank you for making yourself available for questions like this. When I married my wife, I honestly thought whether or not I contracted it would matter since I would only be with her, so its a relief to be able to speak to someone who can confidently speak to the results.

[Terri Warren]

Your final antibody test after being with her was done a bit sooner than I would like. For more certainty, you should repeat when it has been 4 months since you’ve had sex with her but my guess is, it will stay the same as it is now. I could be wrong, though.

No, I know of no test at all that tests for antibody to all the herpes viruses. I am well aware of a combined HSV 1 and 2 antibody test that, in my opinion is pretty worthless. I have often seen positive combined tests and negative separate tests. So who knows exactly what this particular test he ordered is.

You’ve got one more question!

Terri

[mj]

Got my results from my follow-up test done 18 weeks after the last time we had sex. Type I and Type II were both 0.2 and I was told this was considered negative. I just wanted to confirm that this was your understanding as well.

[Terri Warren]

Absolutely negative! Very happy for you.

Terri

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