I think you should call and ask specifically for the results of your swab test. If it does test positive for herpes simplex virus, you need to know if it is HSV 1 or HSV 2. It is an error to assume if there is a single lesion that this is an old infection. Many people with new infection do not get multiple lesions, especially if they already have HSV 1, the virus that causes most recurrent cold sores. The only way to know if this is old herpes or new herpes is to do a swab test in conjunction with an antibody test. If the antibody test is negative, for example for HSV 2 and the swab test is positive for HSV-2 that would indicate a new infection. You have a virus present on the skin but not enough time has passed to have developed antibody to HSV-2. I am assuming that no antibody testing was done because you did not listed here but that could be an error. Let me know if antibody testing was done please. Are you saying that your partner has had bumps for four months? Is that constant? Herpes would not be present for four months continuously. Do you know if any testing was done on these bumps for your partner? The bumps that you describe on your thighs do not sound like herpes to me. Herpes zoster occurs once in the healthy adults. Only 4% of people who can get an outbreak of shingles ever get a recurrence.
Terri