Retest

[ab250]

Hello,

I tested equivocal(0.91) for HSV-1 in early February and then positive(1.19) on March 9th. I’ve read that testing lower than an index of 3 may be a false-positive and then Western Blot would be the better test to take. I also tested with Quest labs which I’ve read that you don’t quite trust. If these tests are correct would it be safe to assume that I acquired hsv-1 from my more recent partner? I’ve read that equivocal could suggest early infection. If the western blot test is the test I should take, can you give me a doctor’s order for it?

[Terri Warren]

Those two values are not truly different from each other though they are labeled as being different. I don’t think this demonstrates new infection or even a true positive, for certain. The western blot would be your best bet, yes, and I can get you the order to do that, yes

Terri

[ab250]

That’s good news! I haven’t had any visible cold sores any lesion that might be herpes. I did, however, experience flu-like symptoms but it could have also been a reaction to the anxiety this situation has brought up or the COVID vaccine i received a week prior. I did see something that looked like a pimple on my penis glans but it was after sex. Usually after sex that happens because of all friction and since I’m not circumsized, the glans is very sensitive. It did not cause any pain whatsoever and was gone the next day. Do you think any of this sounds like I may have hsv-1?

[Terri Warren]

None of that specifically sounds like HSV 1 to me, no.
Terri

[ab250]

Can you explain further as to why a 1.19 would not necessarily count as a true positive? I haven’t seen any websites explaining this.
It has been 4 weeks since I’ve tested positive through the test from quest labs. Should I wait any longer to take this western blot test?

[ab250]

Let me know if I must pay again to get those questions answered.

[Terri Warren]

Because through research, we know that when people test positive in the range of 1.l to 3.5, half are false positives (that is, they do not confirm by the gold standard test, the herpes western blot). The closer the value is to 1.1, the less likely it is to confirm. At 1.1, I would say there is at least a 90% chance that this is a false positive. You need to wait 12 week from last sexual contact to do the western blot, don’t do the timing from your last test.

Terri

[ab250]

Do these stats apply for hsv-1? I’ve read those but for hsv-2.
Are night sweats and nausea symptoms of someone who was just recently infected?
Is that percentage you gave me because you’ve witness many people test negative with the western blot when they present a low positive?
If you believe I’m 90% likely to be a false positive, would you suggest it is okay for me to have protected sex before getting my western blot results?
Because you told me that, in my eyes, I’m negative and shouldn’t have to worry.

[ab250]

I hope you don’t interpret that last part wrong. What I meant is that I’m very hopeful of a false positive. I was just looking for additional confirmation of your suspicion it is.

[ab250]

The reason I want to hear why you suspect it’s a false positive is because I read the free herpes handbook and read that symptoms are flu-like and, many times, symptoms are mistaken for something else. And again, I read from the handbook, that 50/50 stat is in regards to HSV-2. I apologize for coming off as impatient. I’m just very anxious. I did take the western blot today (4/15) and shipped out.

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