[Question #10661] Hsv 1 test results

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21 months ago

Hello, I recently received my test results on 09/11/2023 Order date for positive Hsv1. HSV 1 IGG, TYPE SPECIFIC AB 10.70  (index). My last screening was on 04/12/2023 which showed HSV 1 IGM SCREEN NEGATIVE. Questions: Does the value mean I have had this infection for a long time, or did I acquire it recently? 

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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
21 months ago
The CDC recommends that the IgM test never be done due to false positives and the inability of the test to distinguish between HSV 1 and 2.  The 10.7 IgG result indicates that you've had the infection for a while anyway - could be several years or several months but not several days - longer than that.  If you have ever in your life had a cold sore on your lip, that's why it's positive.

Terri
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21 months ago
Thank you for the response Terri. That helps. I have never had any outbreaks on my mouth or genitals. I do get a little  mucocele bump on my lip.  I was concerned if it’s oral or genital. I know it’s hard to say without a breakout but what is your best guess? Is it safe to assume it’s oral? Thank you for having this community for support. 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
21 months ago
The majority of HSV 1 infections are still oral.  Genital HSV 1 comes from receiving oral sex from someone who has the cold sore virus orally.  I don't know how that fits into your sexual history and behaviors, but good to know.  Without a lesion in one place or the other, it isn't possible to know for sure, where the infection is.

Terri
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21 months ago
Okay thanks Terri. Last question. My wife has recently developed what she thinks is a yeast infection. Some other forums mention yeast and herpes infections being confused with one another. If she doesn’t have any outbreaks, no sores, and only a thin white discharge, it is safe to assume that’s it’s just a yeast infection? It had no smell and the discharge was white. It did not have a cottage cheese texture looked more like precum but a lot more.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
20 months ago
Hmmmm.  Well, herpes has a clear discharge, when it is on the cervix.  Yeast discharge is white.  without someone looking under the microscope, it's hard to know exactly what's going on here.  But with an index value around 10, this is NOT a new infection in you, if that's what you are concerned about.

Terri
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