That nasty igm

[bwolf]

Hi Terri,

I want to start by saying that this site has been been an amazing resource for me over years of paranoia! I was sexually assaulted years ago and went through every test under the sun following. For years, however, I had feared that I had contracted herpes, most likely because I simply found it hard to believe that I had gotten through the situation without any sort of physical long term effects. I was tested yearly and my igg results were always negative as was everything else.

I’ve been with my current girlfriend for a year and 5 months ago, found out that she cheated on me with both a man and a woman. I developed a rash this past Sunday and freaked out and went to a walk in clinic where they ran a full std test but did not inspect the rash, so I went to another clinic where they did and two doctors agreed based solely on visual inspection, that I had molluscum. I was shocked as my girlfriend has never had any symptoms, but the NP assured me that she still could have given it to me. I went back to the first clinic for my test results and my igg results were both very low negatives but the igm was 2.7 and the positive rate is >.90. Now, as someone very familiar with your views, I know that I would be telling anyone in my shoes that the test is useless, but my doctor told me that it was indicative of a recent infection and she said based on how high it was that she felt certain that I should expect to test positive in a couple months on the igg test when I repeat it. She also inspected my rash, however, and said that it didn’t look like herpes at all and that if she had any concerns that it was she would have taken a culture but that it did indeed look like molluscum to her as well. Other than my current molluscum rash, I have never had any symptoms of hsv…not even a cold sore.

On top of the herpes test issues, I have a lot of abnormalities with my basic blood work in the way of low neutrophils, liver function issues and irregularly shaped blood cells that I’m trying to sort out and she said there is a slight chance that something else that is going on in my body could have triggered a fase positive, but I suppose my question is simply this – While I am well aware that I should put the igm results out of my mind entirely, is the positive igm enough to make me someone who should certainly make a point to retest after 3months from the last time I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend or am I letting my fears get the better of me and should I take solace in my igg results? My girlfriend doesn’t have insurance so we’re in the midst of seeking out the lowest priced igg test for her to take, but if her status is negative (she has no history of symptoms orally or genitally), it’s safe to say mine is as well, correct?

Thank you so much for this resource! – britta

[Terri Warren]

Well, let me ask you this: has your partner been tested yet? When was her last sexual encounter? Would her test be accurate now? If she is negative and timing is correct then you can be reassured. As you know, I have no faith at all in the IgM test and have seen many lives completely disrupted by this test. It is very hard to get some people to believe that they are not infected once they get a positive IgM in spite of negative IgG tests and shame shame shame on providers who order them. And the issue with them is though false positive are extremely common, they are not incorrect every single time so I cannot advise you that there is no need for worry whatsoever. Let”s talk a little more about the timing of all the things we’ve talked about and then maybe we can get a little more clarity.

Terri

[bwolf]

Thanks for the quick response! Her last sexual encounter was in April, so, yes, her test would be accurate now. As I mentioned, she is without insurance and all the free clinics we can find in nyc are unwilling to test her with no symptoms for anything other than HIV, so we’re doing our best to find the cheapest option, and in the meantime, I’m planning on retesting in a month as my doctor recommended.

[Terri Warren]

I would think that you would want to come up with the money to pay for her test so you could put your own mind at ease if she tests negative? Just saying……

Terri

[bwolf]

Hi Terri!

So, my girlfriend that I was concerned had possibly exposed me to hsv , and I wound up breaking up this past December. I was tested with the herpesselect igg test in April, a full 4 months after our last sexual encounter, and tested negative for both hsv 1 and 2. I was also tested for every strain of every component of the herpes virus family as they thought I had possibly had mono at some point and was completely negative for everything. I just saw my ex gf today and she informed me that since March, she has had symptoms and has tested positive via culture for HSV 1 genitally. She’s had a different sexual partner since December and I’m about 99% relaxed that she most likely got it from her and that my igg tests confirm my negative status, but is there a chance that I should retest? I’ve read conflicting reports about whether or not it’s 3 months or 6 months for the test to be considered accurate. I’ve also been diagnosed with an autoimmune blood disorder and I imagine that it doesn’t effect things like seroconversion for hsv, but naturally, when I let my mind wander, is it possible that I might just take a longer time to develop antibodies because my immune system is not so hot? I haven’t had any symptoms, and as I said, I feel pretty solid about my status, but having had that positive though easily untrustworthy igm test back in October, I’m just making sure that I’m being responsible. Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

So the screening test for HSV 1 misses 25% of infections, so if you want the very best test for HSV 1, that would be the herpes western blot which we can arrange for you through the clinic if you want that test for greatest accuracy. I don’t think you are seroconverting at all – I do think it is possible that the screening test missed the HSV 1 infection though.

This was our final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew.

Terri

[bwolf]

Thanks for the insight, Terri! I live in NYC, where I’ve read that it’s difficult to obtain the western blot, but I’m not opposed though it’s a somewhat rough time financially for me right now. I do have good insurance, however, and just got off the phone with my PCP and she agreed that the herpes select test might miss some hsv 1 cases, she would trust another round of the same test. Is that worth pursuing? I also wanted to mention that my ex gf had negative igg results, and her doctor mentioned that because of the duration of her outbreak, she believed it was her first and that she most likely contracted it recently. Obviously, I’m aware that she could have had it for a long time and simply be having her first outbreak. She and her current gf are planning to get tested asap, so I’m also wondering if there’s any benefit in waiting to hear their results. Just unsure how to procede!

[Terri Warren]

The problem with using your insurance is that you aren’t technically supposed to be having a western blot go out of state and because we are doing a study we can do that but I don’t think using insurance for this is a great idea. And repeating the IgG for HSV 1 is likely to have the same results IF the test missed it the first time. I don’t think waiting for your ex girlfriend and her girlfriend to get tested accomplishes anything here. You’ve waiting long enough since your last encounter with her to get accurate results. but if money is an issue right now, then you can always wait and do it later.

Terri

[bwolf]

Thanks again, Terri! Just a question out of curiosity, while I ponder my finances – as someone who has never had a symptom (that rash was confirmed to be molluscum and treated by a dermatologist), and as someone who has a condition that makes their immune system pretty pathetic (hence the molluscum), wouldn’t it be strange to not have any symptoms at any point? I understand now that reassuring myself with regular HSV igg screening over the years may not amount to much, but other than the igm test being positive, I was never suspecting of HSV for any reason other than left over paranoia from the days of my sexual assault. I’m probably going to wind up scraping the money together for a sense of peace, but just curious if you would deem me slightly irresponsible to not pursue it?

[Terri Warren]

No, I would not deem you irresponsible not to do it! We are only talking about HSV 1 here which the majority of the population has.
And completely immunocompetent people get molluscum, by the way. Very common indeed.

Terri

[Author]

Posts