Thanks to this forum for all that you do.  I have been sexually active with someone who recently tested positive for HSV2.  I believe she took the IgG test and had what I believe is an index value of 4.4.  The impetus for her taking the test is she found three small bumps near her anus.  The nurse practitioner took a swab of this and the culture came back negative.  She asked for the IgG as a follow up and the results are noted above.  I understand that values under 5 could be a false positive, but 4.4 may be too high for a false positive.  She has mentioned that she has not noticed any significant outbreaks before, but if in fact this is the first one it is pretty mild.  Also, this person has had shingles and chicken pox in the past.  Could that affect the results?  I have anxiety issues and would like to make heads or tails out of all of this, please help.

An index of 4.4 is very likely to confirm as positive if the gold standard western blot was done.  I have had false positives in that range, however, if she wanted to confirm.  You mention that she has had shingles in the past - sometimes herpes and shingles get mixed up.  It might be worth talking to her about where that was.  Did you use a condom when you had sex with this person?  How long ago was the last time?  Is she thinking that she got this from you perhaps?
---