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Hi Terri,
Almost a year ago I (female) had PROTECTED sex with a friend (male). A few months later he informed me that he tested positive for hsv2 via swab. I didn’t have symptoms but I wanted to get tested just to be sure. After doing some research, I decided to get the Western Blot through the University of Washington because I was worried about the false positives associated with the IGG and I had the resources to get a better test.
For context: It was nine months since the exposure when I sent the blot. I had not had sex with anyone else during that duration.
The Western Blot came back negative for Hsv1 and Hsv2.
I just started dating a close friend and we are thinking about having sex soon. We talked about testing and I told him about my experience and showed him my negative Western Blot result. I told him that the test is very accurate at detecting type 2. 99.6 percent, right?
I am having a little bit of anxiety about having sex for the first time since the exposure. I’m worried about the possibility of a false negative. I know it’s hard to say any blood test is 100 percent accurate but I guess I’m just looking for a little reassurance that I can trust the blot. I saw some Reddit users doubting the accuracy of the test and it kind of set off anxious thoughts in my brain.
Here are my questions:
1.Is a false negative for HSV2 unlikely with the Western Blot completed nine months post exposure?
2.I read somewhere that you had seen a couple false negatives on the blot throughout your career. Were there any commonalities in those patience? Would the fact that I also tested negative for type 1 make a false negative less likely or does that not matter?
3. I never got an IGG test just the Western Blot. Is that okay? Should I also get an IGG? Are there any scenarios where the IGG is better than the Western Blot?
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1.Is a false negative for HSV2 unlikely with the Western Blot completed nine months post exposure?
Totally unlikely! Trust the blot!2.I read somewhere that you had seen a couple false negatives on the blot throughout your career. Were there any commonalities in those patience? Would the
fact that I also tested negative for type 1 make a false negative less likely or does that not matter?
I have seen 10 people in 38 years test positive by a swab test and negative on the blot. That’s correct. However, most of these were in a time period where we didn’t know that antiviral medicines were impactful on the blot. I think most of them had taken antiviral medicine very shortly after they first had lesions appear, which can certainly impact blot results.3. I never got an IGG test just the Western Blot. Is that okay? Should I also get an IGG? Are there any scenarios where the IGG is better than the Western Blot?’
You don’t need an IgG – it is loaded with false positive compared to the western blot.And she recorded the time of the draw and everything. Beyond that, were there any steps she missed? Or is that all she had to do?
She did all she should have done.Would there be an issue with the serum separator tube (the tube with the yellow top) expiring in that time? When I got my blood drawn I’m pretty sure the lab technician checked the expiration date but I just never saw the expiration date, so now I’m getting nervous about that.
When you get the kit, it’s good for 6 months. If it was drawn less than 6 months after you got the kit, you should be fine.Sorry another follow up. When the kit arrived I put the ice pack in the freezer per your instructions but I did not put the serum separator tube (yellow top) in the fridge of freezer. Was that a mistake? In retrospect, I feel very silly for not going to a lab right away. I had some work stuff and obligations that made me delay getting the blood draw. Let me know if I need to redo the Western Blot. I am very concerned about infecting my partner if the test is incorrect.
The serum separator tube does not go in the fridge – it doesn’t matter if that one is room temp or cold. It sounds to me like you did everything correctly and you should depend upon the results fully.Terri
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1. The person I (female) slept with (male) also told me he had hsv1 orally after he told me about having hsv2. We only had sex one time (protected) but we made out on a few occasions (probably 5). He never had sores when he kissed. Does it seem odd to you that I would test negative for HSV1 on the blot? I keep reading stats that say like 80 percent of the population has it? Is that number accurate?
No, about 47% of the population has this.2. When I showed my current partner by Western Blot results he seemed concerned when he read the part about the test not being cleared or approved by the FDA. Can you speak to why it has not been cleared? Reading that seemed to really worry him.
It has never been submitted for FDA approval as it will never be used in commercial laboratories as it cannot be mechanized. it is the gold standard for entry into all clinical trials relating to herpes.3. I had a situation over the weekend where I accidentally used by brother’s toothbrush thinking it was mine. I washed my mouth with listerine directly after. I don’t know if he gets coldsores or not. I keep seeing conflicting information online as to whether this poses a risk of transmission. Could I get hsv1 from a toothbrush? I know he did not have a coldsore at the time and hadn’t used the toothbrush in hours but our bathroom isn’t super well ventilated, so it’s possible it wasn’t completely dry. I’ve seen some online sources say hsv1 could potentially lives on a toothbrush for days. Does this pose a risk of transmission if he carries the coldsore virus? Is it possible that while there may be virus on the toothbrush it just isn’t enough for transmission?
We have no idea if he has herpes at all nor if he was shedding nor if the toothbrush was dry. i think transmission is very unlikely even if he does have HSVI know it’s likely I may get hsv1 at some point in life given how common it is. I am more just worried about giving my current partner false information about my status. Thank you so so much!
Also, I want to make sure I am getting the stats correct. After twelve weeks, the western blot accurately detects 99.6 percent of HSV2 infections, correct? I want to make sure I told my partner the correct stat. Thank you!
Dr. Larry Corey at the Unviversity of Washington says it is 99.9% sensitive at 12 weeks.
Terri -
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I think the risk from the toothbrush scenario is just about zero. if you want to do another blot, feel free, but you are really worrying excessively about this, in my opinion.
Terri
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