TheOneInFour

Hi ACWI,

You sure have been through the mill with this. If the swab turns out negative, I'd recommend you get the doc to order a Western Blot test for herpes. The POCkit tests only for HSV-2 and is a good test, except (1) it can still return a false negative within 4 months after initial infection (you didn't say when the test was done), and (2) it is sometimes not quite as accurate at the best of times. Also, if what you have is HSV-1 genitally, POCkit will not confirm this.

The Western Blot test won't confirm what your specific symptoms are but it will tell you (with the most accuracy that is available) what types you do have of herpes. Most of us have HSV-1 orally (cold sores), typically caught in early childhood, so you have a good chance of testing positive for that. The WB should also tell you if you have HSV-2 though, more accurately than with the POCkit. And the time that has passed will maximise the accuracy of the results for HSV-2. Also, if you have genital HSV-1, the WB will at least confirm that you have HSV-1 -- it just won't tell you where, but it's a start at getting a reasonably accurate diagnosis.

If you only test positive for HSV-1, then keep getting swab tests done. If the PCR DNA test is available, that is a more sensitive and therefore more accurate test than the regular swab cultures. Your doc might know if this is available, or you could call around to different medical labs to ask if they can do that test.

You might also check out [url="http://www.herpesdiagnosis.com/"]http://www.herpesdiagnosis.com/[/url] (in our Resource Links) which has very advanced, detailed information about testing. If your doc isn't aware of the different tests available, you might refer him/her to this site for more information. Hopefully the two of you can come up with a testing strategy to see if you can nail this thing down.

It may or may not be herpes, but herpes (especially genital HSV-1) can be difficult to diagnose accurately. And a negative test result doesn't usually "rule out" herpes per se, unfortunately.

In the absence of a fully confirmed diagnosis via testing, you might see if your doc will agree to try you on Valtrex or Famvir (the two best HSV-antiviral drugs available) and see if that helps. Surely it couldn't be any worse than taking antibiotics if they're not required.

I hope that helps! Good luck. Keep us posted how you make out.

TheOneInFour