Reply To: Western Blot Negative still nervous

[jbb346]

Okay, thank you so much Terri. I think I am having a hard time accepting that I am truly negative and I’m hoping that will pass with time. I’ve seen some people online saying they contracted it from one protected encounter, so I guess I am having trouble processing that I got so lucky but I know I should trust the blot 🙂

A few follow ups for peace of mind:

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?

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.

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?

I 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!