[Question #10997] IgG antibody to HSV 2 has reverted to negative
18 months ago
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I’m a 65-year-old healthy male, healthcare professional.
About three years ago, I found out I had antibody to HSV 2 on routine testing.
I have never had a breakout.
Initially the antibody levels were 14 or 15.
I went on acyclovir 400 mg twice a day at that time, and I have been on it ever since.
I took it twice a day for about six months then I decreased it to once a day.
I have checked myself intermittently and the antibody level titers have been getting smaller each time.
My most recent test was a LabCorp test showing my antibody test to be negative, i.e., below the cut off limit of 0.91.
is it possible I cleared HSV 2 from my body?
More likely, the viral activity has become so low as to not generate a detectable Ab response.
As we know, once HIV becomes undetectable, it is not transmissible.
What would you say about my likelihood of transmitting HSV 2 if my antibody levels have become what is considered within the normal range./below the range of what is considered a positive test ?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
17 months ago
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Herpes doesn't work like HIV In that respect. We know that there is a very high rate of false positives on the IgG test and if both tests were done at LabCorp, then something weird is going on here. If the first one was done at a different lab, then it is likely that they use different kits yielding different values and results. The antivirals that you have taken are not going to cause the antibodies to be undetectable on the second test for most people but there is something called seroreversion with IgG test where it misses antibody it once picked up, and antivirals could contribute to that.
What you need is a herpes western blot antibody test to clear up whether you have HSV 2 or not.. And BTW, index values on the IgG test have nothing at all to do with the likelihoood of transmission
Terri
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