[Question #4958] Girlfriend got HSV-2 positive result, mine is negative. No symptoms.

78 months ago

My girlfriend and I both had routine testing when we met (but did not include herpes testing). Since August 2018, we have been having unprotected sex for 5 months. Just last week, we both got full panel tests with stdcheck.com just for peace of mind. I tested all negative. She tested negative for HSV-1, but on her HSV-2 IgG test she was positive with a value of 2.27, then the results are a little confusing, but it looks like there was a supplemental HSV-2 test that has a positive abnomoral result, negative interpretation.. I'm not sure what that second page of the result pdf meant.

She has never had any symptoms, no outbreaks. Her last partner before me would have been almost a year ago.

I don't have any symptoms either.

I'm wondering:

What are the chances that this was a false positive result?

Would further testing give us a more definite answer?

How should we proceed?

Thanks for the advice!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

78 months ago

Given the negative supplemental test and given you are negative, there is a good chance that this is a false positive. The herpes western blot done only at the University of Washington is the best confirmatory test and the CDC recommends that anyone with an index value between 1.1 and 3.5 obtain a confirmatory test - this is the best one. You can work with your own health care provider to obtain this or I can arrange this for you. If you want to do it with me, we would need to have a video conference and you can arrange this at westoverheights.com. Either option works fine.

Terri

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