How do I reconcile my Quest Diagnostics quantitative test result with my Western Blot qualitative test rest? For example, does my low 1.05 H quantitative test number reflect that although I’m positive on the Western Blot, I have a lower level positive status and a lower chance of asymptotically shedding the virus and infecting another person?
There is no need to reconcile your Quest results with the western blot results. You are infected with HSV 2 because there are no false positives on the western blot. The Quest tests are unreliable both with false positive and false negatives -this has been very well documented in the scientific literature. The index values also have no indication about frequency of viral shedding or the risk of transmission.
Should I do another Western Blot test and/or Quest Diagnostics test? I assume that like any test, the Western Blot is sometimes wrong. (I don’t mind spending the money, and don’t want to leave any stone unturned.)
No, the western blot is not sometimes wrong. Where the IgG test relies upon a single antibody protein to decide its results, the western blot requires that four of the 16 antibody proteins associated with HSV 2 be present to call it positive.
What is your view on the chance of there being a vaccine for HSV 2 in the near future? (I read that Moderna and BioNTech have vaccines in trials right now).
I think we’ll just have to wait and see about the vaccine trials. We all have our fingers crossed for it’s success, but having been the investigator on four trials that failed, I’m skeptical but hopeful.
Terrk