The IgG antibody test for HSV 1 is not all that sensitive – it misses 1-2 out of 10 infections. I have very often heard from people “how can my HSV 1 antibody test be negative – I’ve had cold sores all my life”. That’s why. The western blot for hereps is far more sensitive for HSV 1. It is also the test that would be used to confirm your HSV 2 infection.
The thing about your mouth sore is that yes, sometimes HSV 2 can be in the mouth and yes, sometimes herpes can cause sores on the hard palate, but so can HSV 1. So I don’t think knowing whether the sore was herpes or not is going to help us here. I also know that you want to know if your HSV 2 is only oral. The only way to confirm that is through a swab test should it come up again.
I think if you want to confirm the HSV 2 result the western blot would be the way to go. And yes, I have had people with ELISA scores about 4.5 not confirm with western blot, but these are few and far between and the history of both people did NOT fit with having a risk for HSV 2 infection, which is why I ordered the confirmatory test. I’m absolutely fine ordering western blots for anyone who would like that extra information to live more accurately with or without herpes. I must tell you that the chances this will not confirm are statistically slim
And yes, particularly if using culture, the earlier the swab is taken, the better.
Terri