Bart 17

@mr_hopp Coming back to provide some additional info and testing results. I ended up paying for and taking two UW HSV Western blots. One at 6 weeks and another between 12-13 weeks. Both returned as hsv 1 & 2 negative. based on these results would you consider the initial igg test as a false positive for both hsv1&2? Should I trust the two blot results and move forward as I have been? Assuming I should put more faith in the supplemental quest inhibition test and two Western Blots but my mind wonders to that initial igg test every once in a while.

@mr_hopp thank you for the response and you are right about not trying to over stress but it’s definitely not the easiest thing to do! A couple follow up questions and then hopefully I can try to relax and wait this current potential exposure out. 1. being that the supplemental test came back negative, that would mean I’m negative for hsv2 outside of the protected exposure that took place 3 days before my initial Labcorp test as my only other partner is my long term partner of 10+ years. 2. what would the earliest antibodies would start to develop from the current exposure? I’m guessing I wouldn’t get a 1.06 equivocal or 1.88 hsv1 igg if this was related to the encounter 3 days before the Labcorp test, correct? Trying to see if these values were somehow related to the recent event or not. From what I’ve read online, antibodies don’t start to show up until 21 days plus. Is this accurate? 3. with a 1.88 hsv1 igg if this was a previous infection, I would think the number would be a healthier number, at least above 5-6, right? Many folks online that are known positive are in the double digits from an igg standpoint vs the 1.88 I received.

@mr_hopp coming back with some other questions I’m hoping you may be able to offer an opinion on. After the initial igg test, it was recommended by stdcheck that I obtain additional hsv2 testing and the quest inhibition test was suggested. I did the blood draw on 7/5 and results came back a week later as follows: HSV-2 IGG screening index <0.90 (in range) The HSV-2 IgG screening assay was repeated on a different platform as part of the inhibition test, and the result was negative; thus the Inhibition result could not be determined. From what I can tell, when quest ran the igg screening (initial was done at labcorp) I received a negative result so the inhibition assay was not done, correct? is the question test more reliable than the initial labcorp test? if this second test is accurate I can deduct the initial test was a false positive as it was done to early to pick up anything from my encounter 3 days before I did the initial igg. since I have had no other partners other than my long time partner of 10+ years, the only thing that could potentially change my status would be if I hsv2 was transmitted during the one time protected encounter which I’m seeing as either a 1 in 1000 chance or 2% depending what you read, and that is also assuming the masseuse was hsv2+ and also shedding at that particular moment. This seems like a rather low possibility/probability. I have also not had anything resembling an outbreak or any lesions/sores and I’ve been hyper aware on this front. any additional thoughts on where to go from here would be appreciated.

Hello, no symptoms to note and I have been checking my genitals what seems like every 5-10 minutes since this ordeal happened. I’ve read online that if symptoms do occur, they usually happen in the first 2-20 days (most within 2-12 days). Hoping I can take some solace in the fact no symptoms have shown and the fact that the labcorp igg test has been noted to come back with false positives/equivalents. I purchased the first test through www.stdcheck.com and along with the result I got a notice that “Due to the increased possibility of false positives on the test you ordered, we HIGHLY SUGGEST you complete an HSV-2 Confirmation Test. ” @mr_hopp I’ve paid for the additional testing through std check. The test is an hsv2 igG inhibition, IA test through quest diagnostics. Do you have any thoughts on this test and accuracy in determining a false positive? From what I’ve been able to research online, it appears reputable. any opinion/responses would be much appreciated.

My question pertains to the likelihood of HSV1 &2 transmission from a one time protected encounter with an Asian masseuse at a massage parlor? Approx 1 week ago I went to a massage parlor and ended up being offered sex by the masseuse. She put the condom on before any sex act and it was intact after the 5-10 minutes we engaged. I have had no other exposures outside of my long term partner for the last 10 years plus. I’ve felt a huge amount of guilt over this and ended up paying for a 10 panel STD test 4 days post exposure. The blood draw was done at lab pro which I believe to be reputable. The next day I received the results and the igg grade for hsv 2 was 1.06 equivocable and for hsv 1 the igg grade came back 1.88 which looks positive. I’m doing research it appears my exposure was on the very low end being that I’m a male and a condom was used but I’m at a loss to the result from the std blood test. I have not noticed any symptoms or sores or anything. Please advise if there could have been an issue with the HSV tests and where I should go from here. Many thanks in advance.