Hey guys, as much as I was hoping I didn't have this I do .. just got my results back today and it was HSV1 & 2 IGM 1.70 positive, the doctor didn't really act like it was a big deal and also didn't prescribe anything. What she explained to me is that they tested me to see if I had an old infection in which they used the igg test (both hsv1 & 2 igg results are 0.10 negative) and then they tested for a recent infection which is why they used the IGM test.
My questions now are is this number going to keep climbing ? Because it was equivocal before
Is everyone I come into contact with going to get this?
Because the 1 & 2 results were combined would that mean that I also had a recent infection for hsv2?
(Testing is really confusing)
How do I know for sure if I have it on my genitals ?
(All the doctor said was this is very common and you get it from kissing then asked was "did he perform oral? Then kind of nodded her head yes)
Just want to thank everyone who gave me some hope !
IgM testing is so unreliable and inaccurate for herpes that even the CDC does not recommend it, but many doctors failed to get the memo, so to speak, and continue to order the test. It is worthless, and the leading HSV experts will tell you as much. You can Google it yourself. So, disregard your IgM results and only look at your IgG results and test for IgG again at 3+ months, if you are concerned. Combined tests are also pointless.
So I should be test again, so far everywhere I go they are testing the same
You have not had any real symptoms, but if you're concerned, yes, test again at 3+ months, but only for IgG and make sure it's type-specific. Combined tests only tell you that you have one or the other, or both, if positive, so not helpful. Again, forget the IgM test. The blood tests cannot tell you where you're infected, but HSV2 is nearly always genital. HSV1 is commonly oral, but increasingly genital, so it's less clear cut. The only way to know where you're infected is to have lesions and to have those swab tested.
My concern is that the number rised from 1.0 to 1.70 so I'm guessing I really do have it .. I was exposed to this disease about 7 months ago
Is a Elisa test more reliable?
7 months ago is far from a recent infection. You would have been obviously positive by IgG if you had it from that encounter. Seroconversion for most people occurs at 3 months, less commonly 4 months. IgM is meant to test for *really* recent infections, until they realised it's not effective.
Should I get the Elisa test ?
The IgG test is an Elisa test. If your encounter was 7 months ago and you recently tested negative for IgG, even if combined, then you don't need to test again. You are negative. I don't recall you saying before that your encounter was a whopping 7 months ago, otherwise I would have told you this earlier!
Well maybe I'm counting wrong end of January to beginning of feb 3 encounters with this person so maybe if I count from feb to now it's 5 months
Still in the clear. 3 months is good enough. 4 months if you want to err on the extra conservative side.
Hmm idk .. but I'll keep you updated
Lol, well, everything I've said comes from the US Center of Disease Control, the American Sexual Health Association and/or leading STD/HSV specialists like Drs Handsfield and Hook, Terri Warren, etc. If your exposure was 5-7 months ago, you've had no real symptoms since, and your recent IgG is negative to boot, then you are negative by the best mainstream test available when no symptoms are present.
Just don't understand why the number increased sigh
Because the IgM test is rubbish and inaccurate. If those had been your IgG results and the increase was significant, then I'd be concerned, but from what I know, the IgM test is essentially worthless when it comes to herpes. Terri Warren is particularly against the test and doesn't give any weight to IgM results, so nor should you.
Ok thanks Feliz, what do you suggest that I do next ? Get tested again? See a specialist?
Now that I know you tested 5 or more months after the encounter for IgG and tested negative for that, you don't need to do anything besides accepting your results!
The part about feeling like bugs crawling down there is that true ?