[Question #7366] HSV2 results and confusion

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57 months ago
My new partner and I got STD tests. I am 46 and he is 54. I was certain I would be negative for HSV1 and2, and I was. I have had 4 partners. My partner was also certain he would be negative for Herpes 1 and 2. He has only been with his recently divorced wife for the last 17 years. And, he had been tested several times for herpes when he had his children with IVF, and the results always came back negative. I am the first person he has kissed  or done anything with sexually with in the last 3 years. Before his wife he was with 12 women sexually. He has never had an outbreak, nor has any partner came back to him to tell him they had a herpes outbreak. 

We were very surprised when his initial HSV2 IgG herpes select came back .96 - equivocal. And then the second supplemental test came back positive - "indicates the presence of dectectable IgG antibodies to HSV2." 

I had a chance to talk to his doctor and the lab tech who ordered the tests. The doctor advised me that because my partner had no outbreaks and a low value that he is less likely to pass it on to me. He said that the results did not mean that my partner had an infection currently, and since he probably was introduced a long time ago, it was less likely that he would be infectious. The lab tech said that it was worth testing again and ordered a Herpes Imunoblot test. My partner when back in a 3rd time and got blood drawn for the immunoblot test the tech ordered. 
My concern is that the immunoblot test will not be as conclusive as the westernblot, I wish I had pushed harder for the Westernblot. The lab tech also said that he has never seen and "equivocal" value

I have seen literature that states that any value below 1.1 can be considered negative for herpes. So even if his 3rd test comes back positive could we assume that because he got the first value of .96 he is basically negative? And since he has never had an outbreak and must have acquired the antibodies many years ago, is it less likely that he will infect me? 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
Forget the supplemental test - let me guess - it was LabCorp.  I've now had 15 people who had supplemental positive LabCorp tests who test negative on the western blot.  I don't believe it is an accurate supplemental test.  Given his sexual history and his equivocal test, I would bet a whole lot of money that he is NOT infected with HSV 2.  The immunoblot is likely more of an issue because it doesn't give an index value - just positive or negative.  He definitely needs a western blot.  He can work through his own provider if the provider knows about the blot, or me at westoverheights.com.  Please - do not settle for this result.

Terri
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57 months ago
Thank you Terri for your reply! It gave me lots of HOPE and got me through the waiting period of this last test, which came back negative! We are very happy and very relieved. Your forum is excellent and very, very much appreciated. 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
oh, I'm so happy for you. That's terrific news.  And you are most welcome.  I told you that the supplemental test has issues!  Glad to hear you sorted this out.

Terri
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