Hello 
My question is two parts and the reason I am here is to decide
1. How long to wait for conclusive testing WITH prior HSV1 
2. How likely I am to get a false positive HSV2 based on past negative results 
Part one:

In part one I am asking:

If I have had all negatives on previous hsv2  IGG, am I BIOLOGICALLY less likely to get a false positive for hsv2 in the future?

This will determine if I decide to screen regularly for new relationships etc

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The second part of my question is because I need to test after a recent exposure and want to know if 12 weeks is sufficient with prior HSV1 

Also:

To Terri, if you are chosen as the expert answerer, yes, I also recently posted on westover heights forum...I posted here as well because

1. I’m anxious and more answers help

2. I’m still confused on the correlation ,if any, between my prior negatives and the possibility of future false positives 

Thank you

1. If I have gotten <.02 negatives more than once, does this mean I don’t have the false positive protein and will never get a false positive ?

It doesn't mean you will never get a false positive, but you are less likely  to get a false positive if you have previously tested completely negative.

2. If I was someone who is prone to false positives, would I have seen that on previous testing ? Or is each time a separate 3% (based on 97% specificity) chance of false positive based solely on imperfect testing ?

Yes, you are less likely to get a false positive

If it’s an equal chance of a FP each time...I’m not sure I want to test at the start of each relationship...that’s why I’m asking 

To summarize:

Does having multiple previous negative IGG over the years lessen my chance of a future false positive ?

Yes

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Part two:

All questions below pertain to ELISA IGG

1. If you have prior HSV1, how long is HSV2 seroconversion delayed with ELISA IGG? I’ve read everything from “not at all” to “up to a month”

I would say perhaps a couple of weeks.  That's why I suggest that people wait 12 weeks to be tested, to eliminate this factor

2. How accurate is ELISA IGG HSV2 At 12 weeks WITH PRIOR HSV1?

As accurate as it is going to get

3. How accurate is ELISA IGG HSV2 At 16 weeks WITH PRIOR HSV1?

Same

4. How likely is it that prior HSV1 delays HSV2 seroconversion past 16 weeks?

not likely at all

5. Why are there so many discrepancies and conflicting information regarding prior HSV1 and seroconversion ?

i would say because it has not been studied extensively

6. Is there really any realistic difference between 14,15,16 weeks (with prior HSV1)? I hate waiting

No.

Although I understand that no one wants to get a false positive, they are pretty easy to clear up with the western blot.  Worst case there is an indeterminate, which can also be cleared up if retesting at 3 months is also indeterminate - that is considered negative.  In seven years of keeping statistics in our clinic (and we included HSV antibody testing in every STD screen unless someone specifically requested that it not be done), about 6% of tests resulted in a low positive (1.1 to 3.5).  Western blots revealed that about 50% of those were false positives. 

Terri