questions: 1) what do you think the chance is I am truly positive? (I know by scale, my LabCorp and Quest both would say about 90% chance of being false positive, but the positive confirmation and random higher reading of 2.080 in between the two test (maybe CPL labs does things different than quest or LabCorp?) is making me think maybe I really did contract it)
It’s difficult to say but I would trust the western blot over the inhibition assay, certainly
2) what do you suggest for path forward?
Western blot
3) if high likelihood I have HSV2, as a completely asymptomatic individual, would you recommend treatment? I am hesitant because I am not even sure what would be treated? (I know- asymptomatic shedding, but in absence of any symptoms and I havent seen much in terms of reserach on shedding rates of people who never had even 1 outbreak). I have seen different doctors recommend different approaches, with one doctor friend saying “all the test tells me (if true positive) is you’ve been exposed to it, not even that you have it” – although from my understanding exposure and having it are correlated 100%.
If it turns out through western blot that you are truly positive, and you are having sex with someone who is HSV 2 negative, daily suppression would be appropriate. If you are not having sex, I’m not clear that you need suppression.
4) previously you said “if levels hold at 8 weeks get WB” did you mean 8 weeks post exposure or 8 weeks from that post (16 weeks after exposure)
8 weeks post exposure
Terri