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Dear Terri,
I have some additional questions:
1) The first test that I ever had for herpes was an ELISA for both HSV 1 and 2. As I mentioned previously, this test came back negative for HSV1 at 0.19 and positive for HSV2 at 1.47. Am I correct in assuming that, in the case of the HSV2 result, given that it was less than 1.5 there was an 85% chance of it being a false-positive?
2) I read in the Herpes Handbook that whenever there is a false positive for one type of HSV it is usually a cross-reaction with the other type of HSV. If I am not infected with any type of HSV, what could have caused my HSV2 test result to come back positive at 1.47?
3) I had chicken pox as a child. Could the positive result of HSV2 have been a cross-reaction with VZV?
4) I have had penetrative vaginal sex with only 6 sex partners. I always used condoms with all of them. These were all 1-time encounters; they were not people with whom I had sex on a regular, consistent basis. I was under the influence with 4 of them but I still remember using protection with all of them. I have had oral sex (receiving) with 2 different partners on 3 occasions with no protection (I was under the influence in one of these occasions). I have had oral sex (giving) with 2 different partners with protection on 2 occasions (I was under the influence in one of these occasions). I have had manual sex (receiving) with 6 partners with no protection on several occasions (I was under the influence in some of these occasions). I have had manual sex (giving) with 2 partners with no protection on several occasions. I did not know the STD status of any of these people. What is my risk of acquiring HSV given my sexual history?
5) Earlier in the day in which I had my blood drawn for my last herpes test I took 800 mg of Advil. Does Advil have any effect on the results of HSV tests, specifically on the results of the ELISA test?
6) As I mentioned in my previous post, my last blood test for herpes came back negative for both HSV 1 and 2 at <0.2. In addition, during the past 2.5 years I have had the genital lesions that I sometimes get physically examined by a dermatologist, an infectious disease specialist, a gynecologist, and a primary care provider. They all agreed in their diagnoses that these are not herpetic lesions. Given the last negative test results and the multiple physical examinations, can I rest assured that I am definitely not infected with HSV?