You should wait about 8-10 weeks for a final IgG result after a concerning sexual encounter.  It is has been only 18 days since a concerning encounter, that is not enough time for an accurate test.  In the end, you may be negative, but 18 days is too soon to know with any certainty.  If you get a low positive or equivocal result, you can get another inhibition assay.  We've found good agreement between a negative inhibition assay and a negative western blot.  The same is NOT true for positive inhibition assays - we've seen those be negative on a western blot.

Terri

In my initial question (#10116), you had noted that my exposure (protected oral and sex) carried a very low risk and “ If I were you, I would observe for any sores on your penis in the next week or so and if none appear, assume that you are not infected”. No sores or any other symptoms have been noted at now 22 days post exposure. 

The 1.88 on the HSV 1 IgG could be real or also could be a false positive.  I've seen both true positives and false positives for HSV 1 at that level.  You are correct - the 1.88 would not be the result of a new infection three days prior.

My advice would be this:  If you can't put this worry behind you, do a herpes western blot instead of an IgG.  Then there is no worry about false positive or negatives.  

Terri

I’d happily do the western blot but my understanding is I’d need to wait 12 weeks to do this. Being that my encounter was protected, does the 12 weeks still hold? If I could do the blot now, I’d love to do that and would welcome the opportunity to work with you if possible. Let me know regarding timeline and if now okay to proceed what I need to do to get on your calendar. 

I’m looking for options that could put my mind at ease as waiting out the 12 weeks would be challenging as I have not mentioned this to my long term partner.  

I had thought about another igg test somewhere in the 4-6 week range but am nervous about another potentially false positive result and then having to try and unravel that. 

I’m assuming my negative quest inhibition test puts me in the clear for anything other than the encounter (protected) from a little over 3 weeks ago as that is the only encounter I’d had outside of my long term partner of 10 years. 

Terri