I’m 24 year old and female. I’ve only had one sexual partner before in a monogamous relationship. The last time I had intercourse was approximately March 15, 2020. We exclusively used condoms but, had unprotected intercourse (with an IUD inserted) approximately 2-3 in 1 year and 4 months of dating.  I was recently tested for HSV I and II. I tested negative for HSV I on all lab tests, but positive for HSV 2. My doctor noted that being HSV I negative but, HSV II positive is odd and “uncommon.” What do you think of that? Is being negative for HSV I but not HSV II really uncommon or unlikely? Could there be some kind of interference happening with HSV types making HSV II come out positive?

I do not have symptoms of HSV II. No scabbing, soreness or anything like that. 

My scores for HSV II IgG were 

2.43  - June 17, 2021 (LabCorp)

(My GYN did not call me with the results. I had to call her several weeks later and only then did she disclose my results. The same day, I got my first results from June then did I begin to panic and get several follow up tests at different locations) 

2.28 - July 28, 2021 (Quest Diagnostics)  

2.55 - July 28, 2021 (North Well Health Laboratories)

I understand these scores are low and the CDC recommends retesting and so that is what I did with the following test in June.

I just have this feeling that my it’s just so unfair given I waited to have intercourse for the first time at 22 years old and already probably an STI. I feel like I was not given a chance. I just want to know how likely it is to whether my results are false positive? I’ve come to accept them as accurate since I’ve taken three tests. They are in the low range but, I just don’t want to get my hopes too high. The other thing that I find weird about these result is that I completely remember having cold sores when I was a kid. Not as an adult, but as a child I completely recall getting cold sores. Despite this, I tested negative for HSV I.

I’m ordering a Western Blot and plan have that process completed by the end of the summer. I have also scheduled a eVisit with Terri.

Given my sexual history, or lack of sexual history, does it seem likely this could be a false positive? Also does the time period from my last encounter, have any significance on the probably that this is in fact an accurate test result? Assuming I would have contracted HSV II sometime during our relationship, does that mean my lab result score would have been higher since I would have had the virus longer? My doctor’s are basically telling me to accept the results or take the Western Blot at my own “risk” given it’s so expensive.

Also, I don’t know if this matters or not but, I am a black person with both parents that immigrated from West Africa (Ghana) and I am first generation American. I’ve read that IgG is less accurate on Africans - which I am. Does getting the Western Blot from University of Washington seem worthwhile?

Does my ethnic/racial identity along with low-is score (between 1.1-3.5) give me some semblance of hope that I could potentially be negative with the Western Blot?

Thanks