Need help interpreting test results - Herpes Message Board

inrm0000 · 08-13-2004, 08:47 PM

Hi,

I recently went to the doctor for a sore that had appeared near the back of my throat (on the soft palate). She did three tests:
HSV 1 IGG HERPESELECT AB - My result was 0.32, which is negative?

HSV 2 IGG HERPESELECT AB - My result was 0.90, which is positive -- but barely?

CULTURE, HSV RAPID W/TYP SPECIMAN SOURCE - i.e., a culture from the sore in the back of my throat -- this was negative (so, I guess the sore on my throat was something else, and it went away in about a week).

She advised that I get another test in 2 weeks.

What does it mean that my HSV 2 test was so close to being negative? Is there a chance that it was a false positive and that I really don't have herpes II?

I have been with the same partner for the last 10 years, if that is relevant here, and I never noticed any genital sores.

Thanks for any insights you can offer.

inrm0000 · 08-16-2004, 09:17 AM

One more question: if the test is measuring herpes antibodies, something else must be producing the same antibodies, right? My thinking is that a low score (0-.89) is a low amount of anti-bodies, but not a zero amount of anti-bodies. So, does anyone know what else produces those anti-bodies?

Thanks!

zorba · 08-20-2004, 12:54 PM

From my knowledge, 1.0 is positive and anything below is negative for herpes 2. If you test just over 1.0 (e.g. 1.2 or 1.3) then you are considered borderline positive. If your count is around 2.0 then it's certain that you have herpes. [all this per my doctor]

If you are borderline positive you should retest in 2-3 months to find out if your count increases substantially. For example, in your case, if your 2nd test comes back higher, such as 1.4 or 1.5, then chances are high that you do have it. Now if the count decreases or stays the same, then you most likely never had it.

Many people have been exposed to H without actually contracting it. This explains the low count of herpes antibodies in your blood.

I hope that helped.