Wester Blot Confusion

[WAA1976]

Hi – I tested positive for HSV 2 1.51 in Dec 2010, HSV 1 negative. My boyfriend tested after my results came back and his came back negative. I tested again at Harborview, WA STD clinic a couple weeks later and the results were negative. We were together for 6 years.

I recently had 2 short term relationships. I had sex Oct 3rd. I had sex again with a different guy Oct 23rd and Nov 7th.

I was at my annual exam on Nov 20th and had an STD panel done. I tested positive for HSV1 1.41 and Positive for HSV 2 1.13. I tested again at Harborview on 11/25. The results came back low positive and were sent to the University of WA for the Western Blot. The results came back positive HSV 1 and Indeterminate HSV 2. My partner from the Oct 23trd and Nov 7th events had testing done about 8 months ago and tested negative for HSV2. I am the first person he has has sex with since his tests. The partner from the Oct 3rd event was tested at the start of his last relationship 4 years ago. Both he and his girlfriend tested negative and he has not had sex with anyone other than his girlfriend until Oct 3rd. I spoke to him after my results and he test last Friday. I have also asked the 2nd partner to get tested and he went to Harboview last Friday too. Both evens consisted of vaginal and I received and gave oral sex.

I’m not sure what to think and beyond upset. I am worried I am infected and I infected my partner from Oct 23rd and Nov 6ht. Do I have Herpes? Is it normal to have so many different results?

I am a 39 year old female.

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

It is normal to have all these odd results IF you have a protein in your blood that looks similar to one of the proteins associated with the HSV 2 antibody. Indeterminate results are just maddening! Very often, we have found from looking at this pretty closely, people have just a single protein that trips this test and it is very frequently exactly the same protein.
The recommendation from the University of Washington is if you have two western blot, six months apart that are both indeterminate, you should consider yourself negative. The six months thing is to allow for seroconversion, if it is going to happen. In your case, the timing is important. When was the last time you had sex with anyone prior to November 20th?

Terri

[WAA1976]

Hi Terri – I have not had sex since Nov 7th. To be honest with you I am scared! I am not worried about my current partner (other than the fact I might have infected him) I am worried about the partner from Oct 3rd. We did use protection except for probably 10-15 seconds and he doesn’t think he is positive unless his ex girlfriend cheated on him. Prior to Oct 3rd I had not had sex since my last boyfriend. He and I broke up in Dec 2013. He was tested after our break up before he started a new relationship and he was negative for everything including HSV 2 (he forwarded me the emailed results)
Also I have never had any symptoms. Although I have never had any symptoms for HSV 1 either and the WB confirmed I am positive.

I should hear from both partners by Monday regarding their results. I will also plan on getting another WB 6 months from my last test.

I was hesitant to get the HSV 2 testing during my Nov annual exam because of what I went thru in 2010, and here I am again!

[Terri Warren]

I think each time you test for HSV 2 you will have the same issues, honestly.
At this point, I think infection is unlikely really. But there is a small possibility that your partner in October infected you or the person in November so it is too soon to give you a definitive answer from the western blot. If either would agree to be tested and tested negative, that would be very helpful.

Terri

[WAA1976]

I reached out to all the people I have had sex with the past 8 years, total of 3 people. All agreed to get tested and all tests came back negative. I feel pretty confident I am also negative, especially given the past negative and positive, negative and indeterminate results. Do you agree? Should I be be worried about this protein causing the false positive?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Terri Warren]

No, you absolutely should not worry about the protein!
I would agree that you should consider yourself uninfected, given all of your partners in the past 8 years test negative.

Terri

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