I have a question about the accuracy of a certain blood test done to indicate HSV2 infection. The test that I have had done twice already, and plan to take one last time @ 13 weeks, is a test that my doctor explained that is required to detect HSV2 antibodies...according to the doc and the nurses, this test is very accurate, but I read that only the Herpes Select test and a couple other ones out there are the only ones you can trust...but when I mentioned "herpes select" bloodtests to both my gyno and my doctor, they gave me a funny look...I don't think they knew what I was talking about. Anyway, the thing I want to find out is if a blood test that is specifically meant to dectect HSV2 antibodies is trustworthy...since this is the tests I've been taking....thank you

I've heard the best test is called IgG blood test. Just remember that you really can have hsv1(usually associated with cold sores) genitally. So if you get tested only for herpes 2 but what you really have is herpes 1, it's going to be negative. I do not know if the IgG test tests for both or not...anyone know that answer? Also, I've read that 13 weeks is about as soon as you can expect it to show up positive in a blood test so probably the earlier tests were pointless. But you should have a test what will test for both(1 and 2) antibodies. There are cases of genital herpes in virgins because oral sex is becoming very common so people are getting genital herpes when their partner has cold sores.

So do you think this test is accurate??? another thing....I highly doubt it's HSV1....never once got a cold sore...the problems I've been having for 3 months now is all genital, and the person who I think may have given it to me(was with him only once)...I did not perform oral on him, and he did not perform oral on me.

That doesn't sound real likely for hsv 1 unless he has hsv 1 genitally. Probably, the reason you've gotten neg. test results is it was just too soon. As I understand it from reading here and articles that the IgG blood test is the most accurate test available. What I read was, you can pretty much trust that if your test says positive then you can pretty much trust you have it, but if the test is negative, you can't trust that to be true. If you haven't already done this, search for the herpes manual written by Terri Warren and read it, it's an informative read written my a nurse and it tells about the blood test.

It might take up to a year for a blood test to show accurate results. And you should still get tested for both I and II. I got HSV I in the genital region from my boyfriend who also has HSV I in the genital region. They ought to quit calling it I and II and automatically test for both because there really is no difference nowadays.

But, having said that - there is one good thing about getting HSV I in the genital region (or getting HSV II orally): Since that the virus is present on the part of your body that is less preferred by that particular virus, you will tend to have a lower frequency of outbreaks then if you have HSV II in the genital region or (HSV I orally).

So, I silver lining on a bad cloud, I guess you can call it.

Megarra,

I have never seen on this site or elsewhere, or been told by a healthcare worker that it can take up to a YEAR for a blood test to come back with positive results. Can you tell me on what information you say that? I have been tested three times and each time it's been negative. The nurse practitioner said I must not have it then because it had been about 4 1/2 months and still my results came back negative. Could I still in actuality have herpes?

I believe that it was The Herpes Manual where Terri Warren tells about the testing and says that negative test results cannot be trusted but positive test results are almost 100% accurate. I wish we could quote literature and send links here but unfortunately we cannot.

I have seen you write that same quote several times re Terri Warren. I understand it, but one cannot live one's life believing they have something even if test results say otherwise. That's like saying one should believe s/he has HIV because of feeling constantly rundown all the time, even though blood tests say s/he is negative. Feeling rundown is a common symptom for many illnesses. Symptoms can be similar for many conditions. I have read some of what Terri Warren says. She also says the IgG type specific HerpeSelect test is the most accurate, and should be done within 16 weeks post exposure. I've had this test done twice for HSVII and once for HSVI, beyond 16 weeks! What more can I do, I've been tested 3 times?! I may indeed have some other skin condition.

Oceanus, I agree with you. My gyno, regular MD, and the dermatoligist all said the same thing to me about herpes blood tests. Next friday I'm getting tested at 13 weeks, and my doctor saiod that is plenty of time...I asked her about the building up of anti-bodies--don't pay attention to people saying it can take up to 6 months..or even a year! (she said it can take up to 6 months, BUT 1) this happens to 5% of us who would be positive, and 2) if you keep experiencing constant symptoms, like myself, she said there would DEFINITELY be anti-bodies present...and this makes sense) So just go to the dermatoligist and keep us posted.

I went back and started searching the accuracy of herpes tests some more and again, I keep seeing Notes and warnings: please note, all blood tests have an error rate. And as far as doctors knowing all, I've heard of doctors that didn't even know what was meant by a "herpes select blood test". I don't have a whole lot of faith in doctors these days anyway. The blood test information says the IgG test should be done after 12 to 16 weeks at least. And it can take longer for some to show the antibodies. Well, all I know is I don't want to live with giving herpes to someone when I know darn good and well that I have it.

I definitely do not want to give herpes to anyone else. I think I am putting forth a lot more effort than most people do to find out for sure they have herpes. One reason being is that I want to stop being sick all the time. This is very frustrating. I am thinking of ordering choriphor, for it looks like it is quite effective against herpes. Has anyone tried it and had good results? But I do not want to keep dishing out money on herbs and remedies to treat herpes if that's not what I have. Nothing I have tried has worked so far, except Acyclovir, some. But I have to take it constantly to keep symptoms at bay. I have spent a lot of $$ out of pocket, including all these visits to Planned Parenthood. I just got health insurance and plan on seeing a PCP and then a dermatologist.

But before that I think I will try and get a culture of a new sore. I will go to Planned Parenthood as soon as I can after getting a sore. This should be a decisive test, hopefully. I had not done that before because I had read it can give back false-negative tests if the sore is too dried out and so no virus can be obtained. I have called the herpes hotline, the CDC, HerpeSelect, and talked to my nurse practitioner, but haven't heard anything as informative as I have on here. Thanks for all the input. I wonder if it's true that having constant symptoms would definitely cause me to have antibodies by now. I was thinking just the opposite: that it meant my body is allowing these constant outbreaks by not having produced antibodies to fight them off. Any ideas?

Thanks for letting me know that I could be in the 5% that doesn't show symptoms until up to 6 months later. It's rare, but it's not out of the question. I asked a question along those lines to someone at HerpeSelect, and they couldn't answer me.

I'm wondering Oceanus...if the fact that you keep having constant symptoms(or maybe one OB after another?) of herpes if your body isn't making antibodies like it should be. I don't know all of your symptoms...is it possible that you may have shingles which is a herpes virus but drags on and on and on sometimes people feel sick for a year or longer? My Dad had it and he was soooo sick for the longest!

Yeah, I did think of both those ideas. If you see in the post before yours I said that I thought maybe since I keep having recurrent outbreaks that maybe that indicates my body hasn't made antibodies to the virus yet and that's why the results keep coming back negative. Another person thought it was the opposite: since I keep having outbreaks that that means I would definitely have antibodies.

I did discuss the whole shingles idea with someone at the CDC. Apparently acyclovir is given to patients with shingles as well. I have never had chicken pox that either I or my Mom knows about. I feel confident that means I haven't, no matter how unbelievable that may sound to some. If that is the case I cannot develop shingles. I could, I believe, catch it from someone else who has an outbreak though. I did have contact with a patient at the hospital with shingles about a month ago, but that was well after my symptoms had started.

I really know nothing about shingles other than that. Is it possible to have an outbreak just in the genital area? I did sleep in a bed that wasn't mine the night before I got my first symptoms. I was staying in a rented house where probably dozens of other people had slept before. Maybe I contracted something from the sheets?

I have another small couple of sores again! They came just 3 days after finishing my latest dose of acyclovir. They're never pus filled either. Just a red area developed and then opened to two tiny sores. Sometimes I get a few bumps (skin colored, no white pus). Sometimes it's just itchy and sore feeling, with redness that only I seem to notice. I've never had swollen lymph nodes and headaches and fatigue. Usually it's just one or two tiny sores at a time.

To Oceanus~Ya know, I never had chicken pox either and I never ever had any kind of fever blisters before and I wondering if never having developed any antibodies to fight off herpes is maybe why it's been such a long drawn out painful OB for me.

I've read that having swollen lymph nodes is a good thing as it means your body is developing anitbodies. The antibodies help fight the herpes off as I understand it so that's why I wondered if you aren't developing those antibodies is why you keep getting this. So your symptoms are just sores basically?

I get one or two sores here and there, and they cause burning and redness before they develop into sores and then for a few days afterwards, while they're healing. I get tingling and discomfort that escalates at times. Once and awhile I feel some tingling in my feet, but that's all in terms of symptoms away from the immediate area.

Yeah, I thought about that whole first exposure to herpes, shingles and chicken pox thing since they are in the same family of viruses. Maybe that's why you and I are having such bad first episodes. Our immune systems are having a harder time kicking into high gear. But my first episode was probably over long ago and these are subsequent episodes. Do you know what shingles presents itself like since your father had it for a long time?

Happy New Year!

Oceanus, your best bet is to get a viral culture on one of the new sores you get next time to see if your blood tests are indeed false negatives.

Thanks for the advice. Since my latest use of acyclovir for 7 days straight that ended 6 days ago, I have seen much improvement in my symptoms. I have only had two tiny sores develop that are now almost gone and there was not much pain with it. This is very good news for me since I've been having continuous symptoms for the past 5 months! I was going to stop using acyclovir to allow a new sore to develop and then see a doctor for a culture, like you suggested. However, I am not dissapointed that I am doing better, for once, without use of medications. I am wondering if maybe my body has finally started producing the necessary antibodies. if that is the case then I might test positive for herpes now (but of course, that is never good news). I plan on waiting a couple more weeks, just to be on the safe side to do that. That will make it 6 months since exposure. If a sore does develop during the weekday when I have time to see a doctor right away, then I shall go in for a culture test.

If you do happen to get a sore tested, let me know about your results, because like you, I am so confused and getting tired of guessing whether or not I have it...It definitely seems like I do, but I've had 3 doctors say no, with 4 negative viral cultures, and 2 negative blood tests. I know what you mean when saying "maybe then it'll be positive"...even though that would suck, at least you finally know after MONTHS of guessing and questioning.

but anyway, good luck!

How long has it been since you believe you were exposed/infected with HSV? When was your last test done? I can't believe I have to wait for this many months to know for sure whether I have it or not. Now I know what people with HIV go through. For you have to wait at least 6 months to know for sure whether you have that or not too.

Now I'm rethinking even bothering to get a viral culture done. You're the 2nd person I've read who had 2 or more of them done and all came back negative. That's why I didn't get them done in the first place. I thought they might come back negative no matter even if I was positive.

I'm so mad that the guy I believe infected me refuses to get tested because he feels he must be alright since he's never noticed any symptoms (so he claims). He thinks I must have gotten it from another guy, even though I doubt it since I still don't have antibodies. That indicates it was a recent exposure...hence, from him. It would be beneficial to us both to know. I think too many people think like him and that's why it keeps spreading like wildfire.

To All,

I finally read online that it can take up to 6 months for some people to develop antibodies, and therefore to show up on a blood test!! So Cmill32 I would not stop getting tested until you've been tested after 6 months post exposure. That sounds like a good plan and one I will follow. For me, that's only 2 weeks away!

P.S. I can't believe someone posted on here that they are now cured of herpes. There's no way of knowing for sure if that is the case. They said they now test negative for herpes. That cannot be the case since once the body makes antibodies to herpes, or any illness, those antibodies remain for life. That means they will always test positive in blood tests. And there are many people who never have outbreaks again in their lives, but that doesn't mean they're herpes free (i.e. non-infectious to others)!!

I'll have to look for someone saying they are now cured and have a negative test result. Still though with the test result...as inaccurate as the testing for herpes is, a negative test result wouldn't surprise me. And for symptoms to suddenly stop is not uncommon. I was reading a thread about a man that used DMSO and H202 treatments and claimed to be cured but I never did see him say his test was negative though...I must have missed that...

When are the "Powers that Be" going to finally wake up and realize that they need to devote some real effort to finding accurate tests and treatments for this crap! Heck...maybe even a cure! But then if they cured it, how would the pharmaceutical companies make any money. Much more lucrative to have people take a drug forever than a drug for a cure...right?! I'd love to know what research is being done for finding a cure!

Why does H have to be so complicated? I hate it. Innaccurate blood tests, viral cultures, different symptoms in everyone, etc. It just makes me so angry. Oceanus, If I were exposed to the virus, it was in mid-october-actually i remember the exact date, the 16th. Which also makes me think, I started getting my first symptoms of herpes shorter than 24 hours than being with this kid. about 12 hours after I started to get intense itching, then the next day it was red, then the next day it got swolen with blister-like lesions. My doc said no signs of symptoms of ANY STD shows up earlier than 36 hours post exposure. Anyways, I would have to wait until march to get tested to know for sure :(

Cmill32, oh it wasn't that long ago you were exposed, about 2 1/2 months ago. You've been tested a lot in that short period, wow! I would wait a while before the next test. I know it's hard to cuz you just really want to know. You can definitely start having symptoms of herpes very quickly after being exposed.

In regards to the guy who said he cured himself of herpes. I thought I'd read in some earlier posts that he said he tested negative for herpes now, but when I looked back I couldn't find that post. Maybe I'm confusing Nonexist with some other person on here who went thru some type of treatment and claims to be cured. I do think it might be possible to cure oneself of herpes. The trick though is not knowing whether it's gone from your body because you'll always carry the antibodies and that's what tests use to determine you have it.

If I do not have herpes, highly unlikely, I would be interested in the herpes vaccine that is in phase three of testing. I read it's been 90% successful in women only who do not have HSVI or II in preventing herpes infection. That is really nice to hear there is a vaccine they are working on. You can look for the website about it online. It tells you all the different places in the USA and Canada they are conducting it.

Cmill32, also do you know for sure if the guy that infected you has Herpes? Did you ask him?

Can you really get symptoms that fast? like 12 hours?? I read first symptoms occur at the very least 2-10 days post exposure, where have you heard that it can come along thta quickly? about asking the guy, no, I never did ask him, I guess I was too afraid to confront him about it because it's college and what could happen is I question him about it, and if he thinks he doesn't, then he goes and tells other ppl I know "oh she asked me if I had herpes I bet shes got herpes" and that's what I've been afraid of. I know I need to ask him, my doctors told me this too. Another thing that is making me very frustrated is me and this guy who I really liek are starting a relationship for the past month, I know he cares about me and I care about him, I told him I'm getting tested for STDs this friday which is the truth but I never told him that I may have herpes...cuz what if I don't?! I'm so scared he might get scared and back away...I know there's "plenty of fish in the sea" but I've dated alot of guys, and I really like this one :rolleyes:
Then I get so many different responses.... All the doctors are like "after 8 weeks there should be anti-bodies, especially with symptoms, etc etc" Then the people on here are like "it could take months and months, maybe years!? It's just so hard. I'm so tired of hearing to have to wait forever to be tested and never being able to trust tests...even though it maybe reality.

Yes, herpes is a very frustrating thing to have to deal with! I wouldn't want to have to tell someone that I have herpes. It was very hard just to tell my BF that the sore he always just thought was a rubbed raw spot from the friction of sex was most definately herpes. He was at first in denial but he knew I wasn't with anyone that I could have gotten this from except him and he couldn't deny he had these sores. He's just one of the lucky ones whose symptoms are pretty much ignorable, especially if you aren't aware of the many faces of herpes.

Ya know, there are many diseases and viruses out there that have no real means of testing to see if that's what you have...it's just that they aren't STDs. That's the bad thing, is if you don't know you have this, you can pass it on. Doctors sometimes must just rely on ruling out other things and going by the symptoms that patents have to diagnose these diseases.