Western Blot?

[singlemom]

Thank you for your commitment to this topic!

Here’s my situation. I was married 13 years, been divorced for 5 years, and in that 5 year-period have had two sexual relationships. Both very brief. One of those I am worried about. I had unprotected sex a total of about 5-6 times with this guy over the course of about 2 years. I would consider him to be high-risk because I don’t know anything about his sexual history, I know he has substance abuse problems, poor judgment, and is generally reckless. After one sexual encounter with him in 1/2014, I developed bacterial vaginosis-I had a pelvic exam and was treated; after the last encounter on 7/7/14, I got a yeast infection, which was also confirmed and treated. At that time, I requested to be screened for all STDS. I had some tests done immediately and then others they asked that I wait 3 months to take. HPV (not HIV) was positive. On 10/20 I tested for HSV and both were positive. I have not ever had any symptoms whatsoever — no bumps, breakouts or any other indication that I would have herpes.

HSV1 IgG 33.10
HSV2 IgG 1.70

My research is now making me question if the HSV2 could be a false positive. I’d like to have some certainty to this diagnosis and think sooner, is better, but I also want to allow sufficient antibodies to develop (if I am positive) to give me a definite answer in a subsequent testing. So my question is: if you think there’s a good probability mine is a false positive and I should have it confirmed with a Western Blot test, do I need to wait until 6 months after the last encounter (so, January 2015) to get it done? As you probably hear a lot, this whole thing is causing a great deal of stress and it is hard to wait, but I want an accurate answer. If you think I should suck it up and accept the diagnosis I hope you’ll let me know that as well.

Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

Your HSV 2 could definitely be a false positive and you definitely need a herpes western blot to clarify your situation. With your value of 1.70, there is about a 85% chance that this is a false positive, which means there is still at 15% chance that it could be a true positive. Plenty of time has passed for you to obtain the test now – we like 16 weeks and by my count, that’s about what has gone by since your last sexual encounter with him.

Is that helpful?

Terri

[singlemom]

Yes that is definitely helpful, Terri. I will be getting the western blot asap.

Best!

[Terri Warren]

So there are currently two ways to do that. One is to order a test kit from the University of Washington to be sent to your regular provider for your blood to be drawn there, spun down and sent back to UW. The other is to become a phone patient of our clinic and have our clinic send an order to a lab in your area for your blood to be drawn there and sent to UW. Be certain you don’t get any other test besides the herpes western blot from the University of Washington.

Terri

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