[Question #11575] False positive HSV2?
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13 months ago
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Hi Terri,
I saw you commented on my post about my HSV2 test being positive at a IgG level of 1.2. I saw that I have a 85% chance of being negative and can do the western blot to be sure. Do you know if they send them from gynecologist offices? I also wanted to talk to you about my symptoms. I’ll try to remember as much as possible however it was 4 years ago I experienced these extreme symptoms. I remember I first got swollen lymph nodes in my throat and under my neck. Then I started to have tingling in my rectum and genitals. Then the pain set in in my genitals. I never saw the blisters because I believe they were just inside but they were localized to two locations. One on the right inside that hurt the most and one on the left side. I’m assuming there is no way this couldn’t be HSV2 because of the pain and I’ve heard people say “oh you will know when you have it” because of this pain. I also had a similar break out a few months later but slightly less painful. I may or may not have had breakouts since it’s hard to tell because it hasn’t been painful like before but still felt something. The last test I did was 4 years ago when I got a 1.2 IgG until recently where I’ve had 4 negative HSV2 tests. I’m really curious about doing the western blot now because I’m hopeful it’s negative! Doubt it though
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13 months ago
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I thought I’d add - I got shingles 7 years prior to getting my HSV2 positive diagnosis.
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13 months ago
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Also wanted to add I did the testing 4 years ago at the same time the first breakout occurred.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
13 months ago
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If the testing was done too soon after a primary infection, the antibody may have been negative or a low positive. The timing matters as antibody can take a while to be developed. Perhaps a reasonable strategy now would be either to do the blot (any doc can order it from UW) or to do another IgG and see if the value is a lot higher now. Where was the shingles outbreak and was it swab tested to know that it was shingles for sure?
Terri
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13 months ago
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I’ve taken 4 IgG tests in the past 6 weeks (4 years after IgG positive of 1.20) with no value given because they were negative or <.90. The test of 1.2 was done at time time of the first breakout so that could be why it was so low but I would expect a higher number now which I have gotten negative instead. Seems like only a western blot can determine if I’m infected. The shingles outbreak is interesting because it occurred right after a sexual encounter. He cut me inside really bad (assuming his finger nails) and I had to hold my inside to be able to pee without pain. 5 days later I had what I thought was a shingles outbreak down my lower back and upper leg. Now that I think about it though….the cut was in the same location I had my breakout. Interesting
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13 months ago
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And no I never had the shingles outbreak properly diagnosed
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13 months ago
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Herpes outbreak also happened after sexual encounter
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13 months ago
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Also I was tested for HSV2 for years following what I thought was the shingles outbreak and was always negative. I’ve only been positive for it 4 years ago at IGG 1.2
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13 months ago
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When I say the cut was in the location of my breakout, I mean my herpes breakout 7 years later. Sorry for all the follow up messages. Just want to provide as much detail as possible
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13 months ago
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These negative hsv2 tests also make me nervous that my other STD tests are not accurate.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
13 months ago
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Let me try to cover all of this information. If the only positive IgG you've had was four years ago and it was the 1.2 and all IgG tests since have been negative, then I seriously doubt that you have HSV 2 but you are correct that the western blot is the way to go to get the most accurate answer.
About the other STI tests: all other STI tests are way, way better than the HSV test. It is poor due to the high rate of false positives and should not be done unless someone has symptoms or has had a partner with HSV 2 and wants to know if they have been infected. I think you might be getting distracted here by 1) the cut and 2) the shingles. Let's focus on getting the best antibody test and let those concerns fall by the wayside for now.
Terri
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