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Friday, March 27, 2009 QUest asks

Q: Is it likely that my results are False-Positive?

I have never had any signs and symptoms of herpes( I am very paranoid, and watch things closely). Moreover, I have always used protection when I have been sexually active( I understand that there can be skin to skin transmission but is not likely in most cases). Since I can remember going to an OBGYN ( I started at 11, didn't start being sexually active until 18), I thought I was having STD test performed but recently found out that you have to ask for the STD exam. I never did because I was never really "active" in such a way to make me think I may need to. Anyways recently, there was  a virus going around with symptons of a Rhinovirus ( common Cold) and I seem to have contracted that virus. So I went to my primary care physician who prescribed to be an antibotic and two weeks later it was time for my OBGYN appointment where I asked for a STD test. Everything came back negative except HSV 2 IGG type Specific AB which the results indicated the index to be 2.71. I immediately thought, I should do a retest but was told by the nurse that these results are normally very accurate so a retest would not be necessary. I cried and Cried and Cried and then I realized, there is still a posibility especially since I know that I have never really had close skin to skin contact with anyone I was involved with sexually unless a condom was used. Even then, would I have some type of HSV I since I had performed oral sex with past partners? I also thought that it is possible for these IgG antibodies to be present because of recent contact with the virus mentioned above since I had been on antibodies? Would my vegetarian diet cause some of these issue? You know so many thoughts run through your mind but I was wondering what you Thought? 

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Answers (2)
3/27/09 5:32pm

hi quest sorry to hear the bad news. well u can catch herpes giving or receiving oral sex. u might have caught it from someone giving you oral sex, you say you always used protectoin while haveing intercourse so im guessing u must have got it from  receiving oral sex. the antibiotics has nothing to do with your test sweetheart, neither the cold. so be safe take care of yourself and always use protection. oh yeah it can actually take a few years for the herpe virius to show up in anyones symptoms thats you u never may have had any symptoms.

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3/30/09 4:20am

These days, most blood tests for HSV are accurate and type-specific.  Your nurse is probably right.  However, a few days ago I found out through a blood test run by my doctor that I was misdiagnosed with HSV-2 21 years ago!  I'm still upset as the misdiagnose changed my life in many ways (decision to get into relationships, stay in bad relationships, marry a person with HSV-2 because I thought I had HSV-2, get c-sections, etc.)  If you really want to be sure, get another test by another provider or clinic.  Diet has nothing to do risk of acquiring HSV or with outcome of the tests.

 

Good luck.

LME

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By QUest— Last Modified: 11/12/10, First Published: 03/27/09