[Question #13085] Question on testing and timing.
 |
2 months ago
|
Hello everyone and thanks for all that you guys do. In the first week of Jan '25 I was given a full panel test that tested for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea, Hiv, Hep A,B,C, HSV-1 & 2, and Syphilis. All the results were negative.
I have been to 3 massage parlors sinceand I was manually masterbated by the girls, starting about 3 months ago. The third time I went though I did perform cunnilingus and analingus on the girl, but I don't believe she performed oral on me. 2weeks later I had a rash and what appeared to be a white head pimple in the crease of my pubic area, like jock itch, except it wasn't present on my thigh, just very low in the area next to my testes. When i tried to pop the pimple it wouldn't, it was just kind of an empty bump. The rash didn't extend onto the scrotum. I used some vaseline, but then I read that can make jock itch worse, so I went and got OTC medication and in about 2 weeks the rash cleared up. I have never had jock itch in the past. to be safe I went and got a full panel test again at 4.5 weeks and all results came back negative.
It's now been 8 weeks since the event and my girlfriend is having some pain and I am concerned that perhaps I tested too early. My questions are, would it be worth it to retest now at 8 weeks or should I retest further out?
For HSV-2 and HSV-1 Does a rash often look like a allergic type rash? as in no real blisters, scabbing, more similar to hives?
I have never had a cold sore anywhere before, and when tested I've always been negative. but my GF does get them around her mouth about once a year.
I see on the forum you have stated that an IGg is about 70% accurate at 4.5 weeks but the company I used, who tested at labcorp, said its 96% accurate at 4-6 weeks and 99% accurate at 6+ weeks. Was the test that I took pretty much worthless?
 |
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
2 months ago
|
The timing in question would have been the amount of time that had passed from when you had another partner prior to the January testing panel. The 70% accuracy is a number based on an older research study, using a different test than the one LabCorp uses now. The new test is a better test but I don't think we have enough data with the new test to know that is it 99% sensitive at 6 weeks. Sometimes it depends upon the characteristics of the group of people the test used to evaluate the timing. For example, if the group of people the company used to come up with the 99% all had positive swab tests as well as then positive IgG test, that might well be the case. I'm not as sure about the timing of the general population of people who might be using this test who were just screening. I'd have to look at their study population to be clearer about this. It is certainly not worthless AND the activity that you participate in presents very little risk of the acquisition of HSV.
Herpes does not look like an allergic rash - it looks like groups of water blisters on a red base, or maybe a singular one . It doesn't look like jock itch.
Terri
--- |
2 months ago
|
Thank you for your reply. Would it be worth it to retest again now at 8 weeks or is it too soon to make a Difference. Or should I avoid retesting all together?
I don’t know what the rash was, it’s gone now. Could have been jock itch, or bad laundry detergent, but I have heard that often herpes is ignored as a possibility because people assume that this is jock itch. Do my symptoms give you any concern?
|
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
2 months ago
|
Your symptoms DO NOT concern me, no, I think the skin changes that you described do not fit with a herpes diagnosis.
I don't think retesting would be useful for you and I'm worried about your getting a false positive result
Terri
--- |
2 months ago
|
Thank you and I understand your concern. To answer your original question prior to January 2025 my last partner would have been between 6-7 months before the test.
|
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
2 months ago
|
OK, so you can trust that test result.
Terri
---