[Question #1628] Follow up to q#1613
93 months ago
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Hi, i previously enquired about a one time encounter in which i had unprotected sex and then experienced a lone pimple at the base of my penis. Doctors said this was an unlikely place to get herpes but i had shaved peior to sex. I got my igg test results back today. I had them done at 4.5 weeks exactly. Results where: HSV1: negative 0.196 and HSV2: negative 0.5. Could you tell me why the hsv2 score is slightly higher ? And what percentage of people will have seroconverted by this time? If a negative result is closer to 0.9 does that mean i am more likely to test positive at 3 months ? As a precaution i did take acyclovir for 5 days. I also have a new tiny spot on my penis, about 3 inches further down the shaft, although again it is painless and has no fluid, i have historically had many similar ones.
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
93 months ago
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We don't have statistics about 4.5 weeks. However, I am slightly concerned about your value of 0.5 and the fact that it is going up a little bit. Not very concerned honestly, just a little concerned. When we look at our study of people with HSV 2 results on the IgG, we don't see many people above 0.3. If you were my patient in the clinic, I would recommend that if you have sex with anyone right now, that you use condoms every time until we have a chance to see what you results are farther down the line - say 6 weeks. It's probably just fine, but with a "pimple" and a rising HSV 2 level to 0.5, I think reasonable caution is appropriate. I don't want to send you into a panic, I want you to carefully and thoughtfully proceed with further diagnostic testing when the timing is appropriate. We will likely learn more from the 6 weeks or 12 weeks test. And please -don't take any more acyclovir as it could throw off the testing. to be clear, I don't think this means you have herpes but it does mean we need to follow this now a bit more closely. Are you with me on this? In a non-panicked state?
Terri
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Terri
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93 months ago
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Hi terry,
Ive just had the results sent through to me and my hsv2 reading is actually <0.5. The lady on the phone simply read it out as 0.5. So i'm back to square one in terms of a baseline result. When do you think i should retest? My partner who the exposure was with is testing next week. I have noticed a new tiny red blemish in the middle of my shaft about 3 inches down which again doesnt hurt/itch but hasnt changed since i noticed it 3 days ago. Should i test at 6 weeks do you know roughly the accuracy? Also how long do you have to wait until you take a western blot?
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
93 months ago
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well, that's different! That result doesn't tell you anything specifically. What you do know is that you are negative at baseline. Interesting that they report out HSV 1 at levels so low and specifically but not HSV 2. If your partner tests negative for HSV 2, that's a very useful and good sign and I think that should help you relax a whole lot more
Usually, herpes doesn't present as a tiny red blemish, that just doesn't sound herpetic to me and also, normally, herpes lesions do change over time, even over 3 days.
At 6 weeks, the accuracy is about 70% - that is, if you are negative at 6 weeks, there is a 70% chance it will stay that way. We don't recommend western blots until 16 weeks have passed since exposure.
I would say things are looking up for you!
Why don't you save your final post with me until you have your partners results back, what do you think?
Terri
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Usually, herpes doesn't present as a tiny red blemish, that just doesn't sound herpetic to me and also, normally, herpes lesions do change over time, even over 3 days.
At 6 weeks, the accuracy is about 70% - that is, if you are negative at 6 weeks, there is a 70% chance it will stay that way. We don't recommend western blots until 16 weeks have passed since exposure.
I would say things are looking up for you!
Why don't you save your final post with me until you have your partners results back, what do you think?
Terri
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