1) Effect of Valtrex on IgG testing and WB:
You told me that valtrex is only a concern for the testing if the long term treatment was started right after a primary infection and that a long term treated for 10 months starting at least ~6-18 months after suspected infection should not affect the result of the WB test. Is this correct and is it the same for IgG test? 1 month without valtrex before WB test, 0 pause before IgG was my case.
I’m not as clear about the impact on IgG testing but I would assume it is the same.
2) Serum for WB test was sent from Europe, the cooling bags in the package did not have time to get frozen, they were only a bit cold, you said temperature was not something you were concerned with yet cooling it seemed quite important in instructions that you sent me.
I’ve never seen a blot sample refused due to a melted ice bag ever which makes me think it isn’t that important.
3) How are PCR swabs taken in asymptomatic viral shedding studies? Do they use a different kind of PCR swab than we do in regular testing or can regular testing labs also detect viral shedding if present in the location of the swab? I’ve never seen this explained anywhere and testers tend to claim PCR needs blister fluid. The reason I ask is to know if PCR can be used to exclude that a suspicious pimple or rash is shedding HSV.
Would a PCR test sometimes be able to catch HSV from balanitis symptoms without blisters present if HSV was the cause of the balanitis irritation?
The PCR swabs are just the normal swabs we would usually use in clinic. We can detect virus from completely normal looking skin. A sore or rash is not necessary to detect virus.
4) Does HSV1 cause more neural irritation since as nerve itching than HSV2?
Not that I know of
5) How likely is HSV to be the cause of genital neurological itch by penis base/scrotum and recurrent balanitis with periods of hot penis skin? Also does an irritated scrotum that shrinks in and feels periodically irritated / sensitive to underwear/cloth friction have any HSV correlation?
While it is possible that herpes could cause these symptoms, so could lots of other things.
Terri