jm6

@HikingGirl i know you said you hadn’t you one done. If your done mind me asking .... how long after possibles exposure did you have it done and IT just said positive? Guess I’m overthinking this

Western blot came back negative for hsv2. Terri said i will most likely always test positive

So let me try to make a long story short. I got tested in July and everything was negative with the exception of hsv1. Dated a guy over the summer and decided since he was a bit shady to get checked again in November. I never had any symptoms just wanted to get checked. Hsv1 was positive (I’ve always had it). Hav2 was equivocal at .97. Fast forward forward to early December... got retested for hav2 and came back positive at 1.38. This was now about 12 weeks post exposure. I went a little cazy and got checked 3 more times. The week after it was at 1.62, then 1.33, and then 1.58. I decided since it was still still low to get a western blot done. I contacted Terri Warren and went ahead with the test. Just got my results back. Hsv1 positive but hsv2 NEGATIVE. Terri said will probably always test positive for hsv2 but i don’t actually have it. Just thought i would share.

@teeKay what was you IgG at? Was that affected by the Valtrex at all?

@teekay. Did I‎t cause your numbers to be really low?

Me too.. and after speaking to Terri, it seems that 12 weeks is actually ok to do the western blot... we shall see

That's great!.. glad it worked out for you.

I just read this. I was with someone about 13 weeks ago....long story short I decided to get tested. I was equivocal for HSV2 at .97 at about 7 weeks. At 11 weeks I was 1.38, at 12 weeks 1.62 (at this point my doctor put me on valtrex even though I had no symptoms) and then at 13 weeks my IgG came back at 1.33. I spoke to Terri Warren and she told me that the only way to know for certain is to go ahead with the western blot which is what I will be doing.

Here's my situation.. I've already spoken to Terri and I am going ahead with the WB to confirm HSV2. But I am now 13 weeks out. In November at about 8 weeks my igg was .97. then at 11 weeks it was 1.38, at 12 weeks it was 1.62, at this point I started the valtrex (which was Wednesday of last week), then Monday I had another igg test at 13 weeks and it came back at 1.33. I don't know if the valtrex would cause it to drop or if this is considered normal variation. Maybe I'm just slow at building antibodies but I am 13 weeks out and have only been on the meds for 1 week.

and thanks for getting back to me :)

Thanks.. but it shouldn't lower the number right? I can understand it affecting the ability to build more antibodies but it should not lower your number if you are already positive... or am I wrong?

Does taking Valtrex affect IgG numbers?

New Jersey area???

Thanks :)

This was great to read! I am newly diagnosed and the thought of having to disclose makes me sick. I was seeing someone when I found out and told him. He told me he was ok with it but by the next day he said he wasn't. Hopefully this will change for me. Thanks!

Thanks.

Hi... Just curious how dating has been since you found out you had HSV2... Once you tell the person, do they usually run or have you had success? Thanks

ok thanks

Hi. So back on nov 2nd i got tested and my test came back equivocal at .97 for hsv2 and 40 for hsv1. (I got tested back in July and my hsv1 was also at 40 but hsv2 was negative). On dec 6th i got tested again and the hsv2 was 1.38 (from labcorp) at about 11 weeks. I personally had another test done on dec 12 from quest and I‎t came back at 1.62 at 12 weeks. Can the difference be due to different labs or do you think it’s be cause I’m still building antibodies to the virus? Should i check the IGg numbers at 16 weeks or is I‎t worth getting the western blot test now? Just looking for some opinion. Thanks

Hi. I figured I’d ask in here. So back on nov 2nd i got tested and my test came back equivocal at .97 for hsv2 and 40 for hsv1. (I got tested back in July and my hsv1 was also at 40 but hsv2 was negative). On dec 6th i got tested again and the hsv2 was 1.38 (from labcorp) at about 11/12 weeks. I personally had another test done on dec 12 from quest and I‎t came back at 1.62 at 12/13 weeks. Can the difference be due to different labs or do you think it’s be cause I’m still building antibodies to the virus? Should i check the IGg numbers at 16 weeks or is I‎t worth getting the western blot test now? Just looking for you opinion. Thanks

@hikingGirl. @jm6, here’s the information I promised about the western blot test. I think you’ll find this thread both interesting and relatable to your situation: https://herpeslife.com/herpes-forum/discussion/9280/important The western blot is the gold standard of herpes testing, and great for situations like yours where the IgG test results were ambiguous. Terri Warren, a clinician and expert on HSV, recommends testing with the western blot if you’ve had index values below 3.5 once you’re far enough away from the suspect encounter (12-16 weeks) when the IgG will be most accurate. My index value was 40-something for HSV1, but only 3.27 for HSV2. I chose to spend the $250 it cost me at the time to have the test done to be certain. In my case, I truly do have HSV2 after all. But at least now I know for sure and can move forward. This link gives you the number to call the University of Washington to order the kit http://depts.washington.edu/herpes/pages/hsv_resources The Westover Heights Clinic can also help you order the test: https://westoverheights.com/herpes/getting-a-western-blot/. When I was looking to get tested, Warren was doing a study of some sort, so I had my test ordered by her and it was very easy. She told me what lab to go to based on my zip code, I showed up, they drew my blood, and they sent it in to UW. I heard back from Warren with the results about 10-14 days later. Hope that helps! So the 1.38 came from labcorp at about 11/12 weeks. The 1.62 came from quest at 12/13 weeks. Cam the difference be due to different labs or do you think it’s be cause I’m still building antibodies to the virus? Should i check at 16 weeks or is I‎t worth getting the western blot test now? Just looking for you opinion. Thanks

Thanks... I ended up doing another test and the igg has increased from 1.3 to 1.6 so I think its def positive. I will look into this test tho... and probably end up ordering it. Thank you so much!

Hi all. So i found out recently that i am positive at a 1.3 for hsv 2. I’m assuming that number will probably increase. Anyway i am really scared as i have not had any symptoms yet. I did start the meds but I’m looking for some advice on what to expect. I was also kind of seeing someone and i told him and it’s basically done now so I’m bummed about thst as well. How did you move forward and stay positive as far as dating was concerned? Feeling down about all of this.

This is great. I would love a H buddy. I am newly diagnosed and still freaking out a bit.

Thanks. My igm was negative. I‎t was my igg that came back at 1.3 for hsv2 and 40 for hsv1