Recent IGG Positive, Male Mid Twenties

[barry19]

11/5: Had a sexual encounter where I received oral from a female and she sat on top of me briefly without insertion but would assume shaft and tip contact.
I thought I had an ingrown hair on my pubic region which I felt is common since I shave with a straight razor, I tend to pluck at them with tweezers when they appear but this one grew. I later burned it with Apple Cider Vinegar and may have left a chemical burn.
It later healed but then I noticed two additional ingrown hairs about 4 weeks later again applied ACV.
6.5 weeks later: I went to an urgent clinic, the doctor looked at my existing scabs from the current two ingrown hairs and the chemical burn, she felt that they did not look herpetic, gave me antibiotics and full STI bloodwork. I told her that I do receive seasonal cold sores around mouth ever since I was a child.
7th week: I receive my blood results: IGG Positive HSV 1: 42.70 and HSV 2: 2.39. IGM’s were negative for both, looks like the lab tests were performed by Quest. Since that visit I’ve been frantically shining my phone light for more bumps and have found some tiny flesh colored ones not possible to see without intense light closer to stomach.
Furthermore, there has been no urination burn, eruptions, discharge, clusters, or abnormal itching. No pain at all besides the original chemical burn. Bumps are strictly about a half inch away from the base of my penis with no symptoms or bumps on the penis tip, shaft, or scrotum area. I’ve had nothing that has crusted over, and the only scabs produced were after I burned anything by using ACV which I would soak in cotton and apply bandage. Online pictures resemble Molluscum Contagiosum more than anything.
1. Possibility of a false positive?
2. Would low positive IGG and negative IGM (test 47 days after encounter) indicate that it would be an older infection if indeed infected?
3. Would a high HSV 1 level possibly trigger a positive HSV 2 score?
Please share thoughts and suggest next steps.
Thanks

[Terri Warren]

.
1. Possibility of a false positive?
Absolutely. The CDC recommends that everyone who gets an index value between 1.1 and 3.5 obtain confirmatory testing, preferably with the herpes western blot done only at the University of Washington. The IgM is a useless terrible test which the CDC says never to use – apparently your provider has not read the guidelines on this test.
2. Would low positive IGG and negative IGM (test 47 days after encounter) indicate that it would be an older infection if indeed infected?
No, we cannot make anything of a low positive and negative IgM combination.
3. Would a high HSV 1 level possibly trigger a positive HSV 2 score?
Possibly yes, there can be some cross reactivity between the two viruses on this test, though not common, it does happen. You need the western blot to clarify your situation

Terri
Please share thoughts and suggest next steps.

[barry19]

Just a follow up for anyone reading: Got my Western blot results back today and I was negative for HSV-2! Positive for HSV 1; I have had oral cold sores since I was a child so this was pretty expected especially with the 42.70 IGG. Encourage anyone who has had a struggle of emotions to have the Western blot done.

Thank you Terri!

[Terri Warren]

You are most welcome – glad you followed through with this testing.

Terri

[Author]

Posts