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gdherpesconfusionParticipant
HI Terri,
Thank you for all of your help and guidance during this time. I was having a very difficult time dealing with the low positive IGG test I received. I just wanted to follow up and give you and update. As you predicted I had another WB done at 3 months and was negative for HSV 1 & 2!!!! Thank you for the work you do! You are doing such a great service educating and letting people know the facts. Especially when they have a situation like mine with a low positive or atypical results. You are an ANGEL!
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
A follow up. I did another IGG test at 10 weeks and the value went from 2.6 at 8 days to 2.8 at 3 weeks to 2.01 at 10 weeks. HSV -1 still negative. Would you expect the igg level to be increasing rather than a significant decrease at 10 weeks? Like you said previously, probably a cellular protein if false positive so not a valid test for me, but hoping this is a good sign that igg levels decreasing rather than increasing. Again, had the negative WB at 17 days so we know it is not an existing infection prior to encounter, no other possible exposures 6-8 months before WB. If producing antibodies that soon after, 8 days, wouldn’t you expect a much stronger reading by 10 weeks? Thanks!
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
Thank you for the service you provide. I just went and purchased 5 additional questions as you asked. Very happy to support what you do! If you could answer the last question I posted that would be great.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantThank you!!!! Anything to look for/watch out for between now and getting the next WB results? Probably about a month. 2 weeks to test at 12 weeks and 2 weeks for results. Would a biokit be of any use to me, or best to just wait? I will not post anymore unless something changes. I will make sure to come back and post the results of the WB test.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
Thank you for your responses, I really appreciate it. Sorry for any confusion and I am glad I was able to explain. I am definitely going to do the WB retest at 12 weeks. I am now at 10 weeks so 2 more weeks to go. Would another IGG test do anything at this point? I was 2.6 at 8 days, 2.9 at 11 days and 2.8 at 21 days when I took the test previously. If I took it now and the numbers were the same or went down would this help or shed any light on the situation? If they have gone up would that give more clarity? Previously you said there might be a cellular protein setting it off. Didn’t know if the 7 weeks since the last test would be enough time to clear anything up or help.
Before starting the thread with you and before getting the neg WB everyone on the medhelp page said that a test at 8 days would only be dealing with a past situation and not the encounter from 8 days before the test, especially with no lesions or flu like symptoms. I know you don’t say “always”, but would really like to put the positive IGG test out of my mind and focus on moving forward just dealing with the low risk one time encounter with some who statistically probably doesn’t have HSV and if they did the chance of transmitting from one time would be very low with no lesions.
I really want to get this behind me. I know you said the situation looks good, but this is still messing with me. Would really like to be able to enjoy the holidays without this hanging over my head.
Thanks, sorry for all of my insecurity and insanity….
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
One follow up, I just read the thread you having going tonight with very paranoid. You told him that “most likely” he would have symptoms if he contracted genital HSV-1. Thinking back I probably heard what I wanted to hear when I said the UW person “almost always”. They probably said something closer to most likely, but wouldn’t it be a similar situation whether acquiring HSV 1 or HSV 2 if it is a true PRIMARY infection with no antibodies in the system? Wouldn’t the likely hood of symptoms be the same?
Thank you again. I am really sorry for any confusion I caused with my previous post. I just want to put this behind me.
Thanks Terri!
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
I went directly to the harbor view clinic in Seattle to have the Western Blot done. It was definitely the western blot done through the UW. Sorry if there is any confusion, but I went to the STD clinic as a walk in and did the test. I am not assuming that I don’t have herpes. I am assuming that a 2.6 IGG at 8 days is a false positive based on the high number and seroconversion not happening that quickly. From the medhelp site and other resources I was under the assumption testing at 8 days would be testing what happened prior to the encounter, seroconversion would not happen that quickly and have that high of a number. From other information I have read I also thought if herpes was attacking the body to the point of building anitbodies that fast there would be symptoms especially since it would be a primary. Based on those assumptions I was comfortable that the WB was confirming that test was a false positive. I am in the process of reconciling with my significant other and really want to put this behind me, that is one of the reasons this is causing me so much stress. When I talked to the clinician at the UW they did bring up asymptomatic infection and said that is definitely a possibility. They said it does happen, but they thought it was more likely with someone who already has HSV-1. Other people dismiss or ignore their symptoms as something else or do not notice them because they are not paying close attention. The same people at the virology clinic did not think it was possible to have a 2.6 IGG after 8 days, and that result would be from an exposure prior to the sexual encounter 8 days earlier. They told me to come back in at 12 weeks to have additional testing and that would be 95% accurate at that time.
Regarding the timing, I did go and do the WB blood test about a week before my first post on your site. I was dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety and really wanted to get your expert opinion on my situation to help calm my nerves. All of the other information I gave you is accurate, especially with regards to timing. I was concerned if I told you I already had ordered the Western Blot you would just tell me to wait for the results. I apologize, but I was not thinking straight. I have paid again and I will again if appropriate, but can you please address my statements above. You really have me concerned now that you are saying the WB did not confirm the false positive. From websites, other resources and the clinicians at the UW I thought it was a false positive based on the number and short period of time. You also stated above you thought it was now better than 90% that it would remain negative and there was problem a cellular protein causing the numbers. I am not sure how the testing works and what they are testing for, but if the IGG was that high that soon, wouldn’t the same antibodies be present for the WB test and stronger 9 days later so that test would be positive too??? Is a biokit something I should look into at 9 weeks while waiting to do another WB??
Sorry for the long post, I really do appreciate the service you provide and how much you help people. It truly was a 1 time encounter and something I regret. I also wish I knew more about the false testing risk. I would never have tested when I did with no symptoms. This has really messed with my head and affected my life.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHI Terri,
I posted the above question a couple of days ago and did not get a response. I went and purchased additional questions assuming that may be why you did not respond. I really appreciate your help. At 9 weeks is there anything to be looking for? I did not have any lesions and I have been looking. Still dealing with stress and anxiety. Do you think I should do additional testing? You stated IGG may never be useful for me. I was negative a couple of years ago, do you think I will be neg again at some point? Or am I always going to have an issue? Not sure how the false positive thing works. I have read quite a bit about asymptomatic infection. Is this less likely when it is a true PRIMARY HSV infection? The WB came back neg for both. I talked to the people at the UW virology clinic and they said there would almost always be symptoms with a primary and it would almost always include lesions on the penis.
Thank you in advance.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
It has been 9 weeks since my sexual encounter. I have had no lesions, sore throat or muscle/joint aches. Some general tingling that comes and goes and moves around, but nothing specific and no bumps or lesions of any kind. Lots of anxiety due to the previous false positive and constant examination looking for signs of anything. What do you think next steps should be? Do you think I would still register a false positive if I took another IGG test? Do you recommend another WB? How accurate is that at 12 weeks? Do you recommend any additional testing? Anxiety has lessened and I am doing much better, but still vigilant and trying to make sure.
Thanks! You have really helped during this difficult time.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
Thank you for getting back to me and your response. I agree that something I have is setting off the ELISA. Do you think it will always be that way or at some point will it go back to normal? I have had negative HSV2 igg ELISA tests in the past. I am looking at the nature of the encounter now and the fact I have had NO symptoms or lesions. From everything I read I know 8 days is too soon to test. I was very confused by the positive test at 8 days. I really just did a package deal but got the original test to eliminate ghon & chlym. Thank you for the information and the service you provide. I feel good I can move on, but it has been a very difficult 3-4 weeks since the original ELISA test.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri,
First, thank you for all of your help!!! You provide a great service. I went and paid for additional questions. Wanted to give an update. First igg test positive for hsv2 at 2.6 8 days after sexual encounter. Took another igg test 11 days after encounter positive hsv2 at 2.9. Took another igg test at 21 days positive at 2.8. Took Western Blot at 17 days post encounter negative for HSV 1/2!!! Got the results today 35 days post encounter. No symptoms or lesions 35 days post encounter. I will do some more testing in a couple of months, but feeling very good about the WB results. Since it is extremely unlikely to serconvert with NO symptoms or lesions in 8 days post exposure and still have had no symptoms or lesions think it was just a false positive in the low range. Please let me know your thoughts, but feeling much better after the results today. If had already seroconverted in the 2.6 range 8 days and 2.9 range 11 days after exposure, most likely WB would have detected at 17 days. That is a fairly high reading even if still in the low positive range.
Thank you!!!
gdherpesconfusionParticipantHi Terri, Thank you for all of your answers. Can I just get a little clarification for piece of mind? I will go back and pay for additional questions. In your first response you say you doubt from the exposure 8 days prior because the number is too high. From some of what I read on medhelp, I saw one post where you said the earliest you had seen seroconversion was 10 days and that person had strong symptoms and a very low index. Is that true? Just clearing some things up in my head. I had 2.6, 8 days from exposure and have had no symptoms at all. I am thinking it is basically impossible the recent positive test is from this exposure and it has to be from some previous exposure. I guess I am looking for a little stronger statement that it can’t be from recent exposure. I know the internet is dangerous from too much information and bad information. But I can’t find anything that talks about someone seroconverting in 8 days, especially with no lesions or symptoms. Sorry in advance, and thank you for helping my anxiety. I promise to pay for additional questions and I will report back with test results.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantTerri,
Thank you again. Sorry, there were a few questions from my last post that I would really like to get your opinion on. 2.6 igg with no symptoms at 8 days past encounter. I know you can’t give absolutes, but I am assuming that is almost impossible. I read on one of your medhelp threads one of the earliest you have ever seen was 10 days with very low positive index and very visible symptoms. To figure out if it would make any sense to get an igg test I would like to get an idea what to expect. If it is a long term infection would the number stay close to the same? If it is something cross reacting and causing a false positive would the number stay close to the same? If it is a new infection that caused a 2.6 at 8 days, would you expect a significantly higher positive 2 weeks later? over 3.5? I would also like to get your opinion from the past. Again, no absolutes, but one encounter, no symptoms and a very low igg at 13 weeks is very conclusive. I know there are always exceptions and it could be a late seroconversion, but very very low possibility. I have seen many posts where they say that is conclusive from medhelp experts.
Thank you again for all of your help. I really appreciate your answers guidance on this matter.
gdherpesconfusionParticipantSorry, meant to add this as part of the question. If this was a new outbreak, what would you expect the igg value to do in the 2 weeks from 8 days at 2.6 to what today 22 days post exposure? I am thinking of getting another igg elisa test and wanted to know your thoughts. If my body is fighting a new infection would the igg number now be very positive after an additional 2 weeks? Also, is a low positive unusual for an old infection? Wouldn’t you normally expect to just be strong positive if you have had the virus for a couple of years?
Thank you Terri!
gdherpesconfusionParticipantThank you Terri, that is helpful and what I thought regarding too high at 8 days especially with no outbreak and being a primary outbreak. I know that some people at asymptomatic, but I am vigilant about checking and I was during the prior period back in 2011. From the information I read on medhelp, to have a single encounter, have NO symptoms or lesions and test low negative at 13 weeks seems statistically almost impossible to have gotten it from that encounter. And to have no symptoms or outbreaks of any kind while being vigilant for the past almost 4 years. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but statistically seems a lot more probable of a false positive. I did the blood work today for the WB. I know this will only confirm I did not have it previously and will not mean I didn’t get it from this most recent encounter. If it is negative I will test again. From what I have read, 13 weeks with no symptoms from a single exposure is pretty definitive negative on the igg. especially low negative. Would you expect the number to be higher if it was from a previous infection???? I talked to a clinician at the virology lab today and they said they had never heard of someone having seroconversion is 8 days especially with NO symptoms or lesions with a primary and would never have a 2.6. They also said I would have to wait at least 8 weeks for another igg if there was something causing a false positive to clear my system. I know people are asymptomatic, but wouldn’t you expect someone with a true primary infection to have some symptoms or lesions??? Even if they are mild. Your thoughts and comments are truly appreciated. Thank you for all you do to help people dealing with these kinds of situations.
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