Should I get the Western Blot Test to confirm I don't have herpes 1?

[question]

I got tested a while back and tested positive for Herpes 1 Should I get the Western Blot Test to confirm I don’t have herpes 1?

I had some sort of breakout on my skin after getting a new girlfriend in 2014. She had breakouts around her mouth much of her life, and said she had been tested previously and didn’t have HV1. However, the doctor said it didn’t look like what I had HSV1 (more like bacteria), but I wanted to be tested and so they obliged. These were the results:

HSV-1 IgG, Herpes Type-1 (ISR) 1.84 0.0-0.9 Above high normal
(October 3, 2014)

The doctors/nurses were like, okay, you have it.

I read up on the possibility of false positives, and decided to get retested.
These were the results.

HSV-1 IgG, Herpes Type-1 (ISR) 0.14 <0.80
(August 3, 2015)

I haven’t experienced any symptoms of that nature since then until recently.

We had some dry weather recently (Feb 2018) and I got what started off looking like a cut on my lip (or dry weather lip chapping / or other (I don’t know)) which kind of got ugly / blisterish. It kind of brought this issue back to my mind. i used lip moisturizer and improved over a few days. I’m not currently kissing anyone, and maybe took A sip from someone’s drink. So, if I caught it recently I would be extremely surprised.

I have read what you said about the high likelihood of false negatives with the igg test when it comes to HPV1 though. I would love to know what I have or don’t have. I don’t want to spend the money for a Western Blot test though if the likelyhood of me having it based on these circumstances is so small that it’s not really worth it. In your educated opinion, especially based on the results of those two tests and other info., do I need to take the Western Blot Test to get definitive results, or is the chance I have it so small that my money is better spent elsewhere?

Thanks in advace.
P.S. This site is a treasure of knowledge, and just going through the forum has taught me so much. Thanks!!!

[Terri Warren]

Few things cause blistering on the lips besides herpes simplex virus and so that is pretty definitive in my mind. It would’ve been best to have this swab tested when it showed up. The IgG tests misses 30%
Of HSV one infections so I don’t really know how to guide you in terms of whether you are infected or not but the clinical presentation that you describe sounds classically herpetic to me. You could either do the Western blot or wait until another cold sore shows up and get that swab tested to know for certain. I think only you can determine whether it is worth the money to know about your HSV status for certain.

Terri

[question]

Ok, I assume I should wait 12 weeks from when I had the anomaly on my lip before I take the Western Blot test. What are the chances of passing on HSV1 if you kiss on the mouth, and/or french kiss when not showing any symptoms? (is the percentage high enough I should I notify someone I might have this before I kiss them even if I’m not showing any symptoms?)

Thanks again,
Kent

[Terri Warren]

Yes, wait 12 weeks before the blot. There is no agreement about whether you should disclose your HSV 1 status before kissing, honestly. Some people say absolutely, others so not until giving oral sex. There is probably room for different opinions in here. We don’t have a percentage risk for transmission

Terri

[question]

Ok, what is the percentage accuracy for 12 weeks vs 16? (do you think I should wait 16 instead of 12?)?

[Terri Warren]

University of Washington changed the recommendation from waiting to 16 weeks to waiting 12 weeks. Given that recommendation, I see no benefit in waiting beyond 12 weeks. The Western blot picks up something greater than 95% of HSV 1 infections. It is not quite as sensitive as HSV two on the Western blot both far more sensitive than the IgG test.

This is your final post on the subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew.

Terri

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Terri Warren.

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