Western Blot

[blackhole22]

Hi Terri,
I am 32 M. I had an exposure with a CSW on 12-Jan-22. Brief unprotected oral (only receipt) before putting the condoms and also had protected PIV sex but no kissing. I know it was very stupid thing to do. 4 days after exposure, my groin area began to itch and on the same day a pimple like thing (single sore) with white/yellow head appeared in the area where sac meets the thigh. It was tender o

I become extremely paranoid and started googling for possible STDs. I popped the sore 2 days after it appeared without knowing much about herpes and yellow pus came out with little blood. the sore healed in 3-4 days and left no scar. I don’t exactly remember if it scabbed over or not. I felt like my whole body started to itch, pain in my right calf, slight numbness in right leg index finger for few hours. I also had diarrhea too. itchiness was there for almost a week. After 2 weeks of exposure, I was having itching on my face but no sore appeared. I felt that I had inoculated the virus to myself. After
Testings Done
1. 19-Jan-22 – Urine test for 13 pathogens-Chlamydia, Gonorrhea etc.:-ve
2. 13-Feb-22- Full panel STD test including Herpes1 & 2 IGG: -ve
HSV1 Igg -0.1 HSv2 IGG – 0.00
Ref Val. – <0.9 negative; 0.9 to 1.1 – Equivocal and >1.1 positive.
3. 9-Apr-22 – Herpes 1 & 2 IGG only.
HSV 1 IGG – 1.4 HSV2 IGG – 0.60;
Ref Val. – <20 negative; 20 – 25 borderline and >25 positive.

What are your thoughts on this? I have read your previous posts that first time herpes would appear on the penis and generally it will not have thick puss. I am really not sure if I had manifested these symptoms out of anxiety or was it there really or something else.

I wanted to do a WB test. I live in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I spoke to a lab where they have agreed to spin the blood for me. But I am not sure about the transportation. I have read overnight transportation is needed. Not sure if that is possible. Has any one in UAE did this previously? Please help Terri.

[Terri Warren]

I think your contact was really safe and HSV genital infection is highly unlikely, though not impossible due to the brief oral contact, but still, unlikely.
The lesion you describe does NOT sound herpetic to me due to the pus and because it was a single lesion. The other symptoms are too general to be likely herpes.
Overnight transportation is not absolutely required, but I believe the sample must reach the University within 5 days at the outside. I’ve had not anyone do this from the UAE, no, but if you want to do it, I am happy to work with you.

Terri

[blackhole22]

Hi Terri,

What is the probability that a single lesion not on the penis can appear on the first outbreak? Can you put a probability number to it.

I am also scared if I have passed the infection to my eyes too because one month post exposure, I was having redness in my eye (not extreme redness but few red branches). I also had eye discharges (white/yellow mucus discharge) consistently at the same time and there was a very very small stye on lower eye lid. It was colorless and came in right eye and vanished next day and 1 week later it came in left eye and vanished in 1 day. It doesn’t look like a lesion. Initially I thought this was happening because of my binge drinking and lack of sleeplessness but then I was thinking whether it could be eye herpes.
Eye discharge and redness have reduced now though not gone completely.
My question is in the event this turns out eye herpes and I meet a doctor, will he be able to diagnose it because at that time there would be no infection right? How do doctors identify eye herpes if there is no infection at that moment? Will this cause any scarring or do I need to wait for recurring breakout to confirm it?

Regarding WB test, Fedex agreed to ship the blood in 3 days time to US if there is no delay in custom clearance. I really need to do WB. I hope 13 weeks post exposure is sufficient right or do I need to wait till 16 weeks ?
Can you let me know further proceedings for WB test. I don’t have a doctor who can type me anything if that is required. Lab has agreed only to spin the blood for me. How do I go about packaging. Should we maintain any temperature consistency and if so how to do it ?
Video consulting with you is available on all days?

[Terri Warren]

You are asking too many questions about blot processing to answer here. Please make an appointment with me to do a visit online and we can talk all about this.
Again, I think herpes is quite unlikely here and your eye condition does not sound herpetic.

Terri

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