Very strange test results and doctor refuses to answer questions?

Sexual health
1

Okay, so here is the story.....

I have had 3 sexual partners, two of them were virgins, and I was even their first kiss.. My current girlfriend who I have been seeing ( and having sex with) for the past 6 months has had two partners before me, who claim they were tested and never had any STD's, and on top of that, she has had sex with each of them maybe a total of 5 times. 

So, about a week and a half ago, my girlfriend had a cold sore on her lip and also a soar thoart ( we assumed she has HSV 1, which isn't a big deal, as lots of people have it). The doctor did a blood test. He used a IgG for HSV 1, and used a IgM blood test for HSV 2. She test positive for both HSv 1 and 2. I am cunfused on why he didn't use IgG for both test, as I have read everywhere and also heard from numerous doctors that IgM is generaly useless for these types of test. Not to mention, she had a virus, we saw the cold soars, and IgM cannot distinguish between type 1 and 2. If she had type 1, then wouldn't she more than likely also test positive for type 2 if she came in with type one? I think the index value  for type one was 2.4, but when we asked the index value for type 2 with the IgM test, he said " its just...its just positve. Im not awersing any more of these questions, here is a number to call." He literally refused to talk to us, and said he was busy.   Also, he did a culture swab, and she tested negative for that, she also had a weird cut on her finger, they tested that, also negative. 

My question,

Why would he decide to use IgG for type one, but a different test, IgM for type 2? 

What are the chances her results were a false positve?  Why was the doctor so uncomfortable answering a few questions? 

How long should she wait to take a IgG specific type test ( she had the cold soars on her lip 10 days ago or so) 

Neither of us have had any out breaks ( i know that is common), and our sexual histories are small ( i understand it only takes on time, but still.) 

I got a complete STD scan yesterday with an IgG test for hvs 1 and 2, we are waiting on our results. 

 

2

Well, that actually is not true what you mentioned about those tests not being able to detect the virus type. The different between the two is igm indicates a new infection and igg indicates an infection that has resided there longer. By 30 days, you can have both igm and igg... I think the doctors assumption was, you came in for symptoms of oral heroes and never had symptoms before, so he selected the igm, to look for a new infection. Being she obviously is asymptomatic for hsv 2 if she's had no symptoms, he's making the assumption it would be an older infection most likely. Culture swabs only come up positive and have enough virus in them to have accurate testing, if you are swabbed 48hrs or less after the initial sores appear. However, it is still a high risk to get a case negative on them, also on the fault of the doctor not collecting enough sample .

HSV antibody testing. Antibodies to HSV are specific proteins that the body creates and releases into the bloodstream to fight the infection. HSV IgM antibody production begins several days after a primary (initial) HSV infection and may be detectable in the blood for several weeks. HSV IgG antibody production begins after HSV IgM production. Concentrations rise for several weeks, slowly decline, and then stabilize in the blood. Once someone has been infected with HSV, they will continue to produce small quantities of HSV IgG. HSV antibody testing can detect both viral types (HSV-1 and HSV-2), and tests are available that can detect the early IgM antibodies as well as the IgG antibodies that remain forever in those who have been exposed.

Do you really believe those partners never had any other sexual activity w soneone else? They don't have to have sex to get herpes, just skin to skin contact. It is believed that 85-90% of people w genital herpes are asymptomatic. I know someone who has never had a cold sore in their life and she has hsv 2 and has had it for 8yrs. Well they tested her for both this time and she was shocked to learn she has hsv 1, cause she's never had an ob. I never rest positive for hsv 1, but I know I have it, but I'm not one of those people who breaks out on the mouth. I've had a red dot here and there and that is it for a day and then it's gone. Now my 6 month old infection genitally is a different story. I have symptoms every single day and breakouts about twice a month.

So keep in mind, that your possible negative hsv 1 teat could come up negative, doesn't mean you don't have it. Also, you will not be able to tell who gave who hsv 2.

Your doctor was frustrated, because most GPs don't know that Mich about herpes and are not educated on it at all. Also I have found, that a lot of MDs, seem to think herpes is the least of what you should be worried about. I had a friend who was a doctor and she wasn't not empathetic towards me at all about it and told me to get over it.. Needless to say we're not friends anymore

3

Hi there, 

thanks for the reply and feeback. 

Literally every other doctor I have spoken too has told me that a positve IgM test means nothing, and that there are many many false negatives. I have been reading nurmerous articles and postings that IgM test are NOT "type specific" therefore they are uselss for finding hsv 2, especially if the person has hsV 1. 

4

I would recommend having a retest done on her in another month or two, so as to see if she presents igg for hsv 2. I honest to god wouldn't worry about it. Worst case scenario, you both have it and are asymptomatic.. I wish that were me. You can't stress bit, cause it won't matter, cause there is not a thing you can change about having it. Beat case is, it is a false positive due to the new hsv 1 infection. So you've never had cold sores?

5

Thanks for the feedback. 

No, I have never had any cold sores of any sort. Apperently her ex boyfriends have told her they have been tested, and also came up with negative. ( Who knows, though, I cannot see them owning up to giving her a STD. 

Would we have to wait a month or two to get the IgG test? Is the timeline from her last outbreak, or when we think her first exposure was? ( One of her ex's, about 8 months ago) 

6

Well some people come up w igm when they have a recurrence, so using that to decipher time of infection is not good. You've never mentioned if you think she may have kissed someone else? She may have just did a side loss or shared a drink w someone who has it, was shedding and got it.

Those guys are full of it. When you ask for. Full std panel, herpes is not included. You have to specifically request it, so her exes can't be sure, I can assure you.

If she just has cold sores orally, who cares? 90% of the population does. You guys are freaking out over nothing right now.

7

I said she had two partners before me, so she has kissed people before me. 

Neither of us care about HSV 1, or anything orally. It was the Hsv 2 that we are trying to figure out. 

Thanks for the reply!

8

Yeah I think there is no way of telling for sure at this time.. I think your beat bet is to not stress it right now, since you can't do anything about it and then get retested since there is a risk of a false positive for hsv 2. Clearly the doctor is clueless to the tests and which does what and is why he couldn't answer you. Good luck and all will be fine. Again, hsv 2 if you both or one just have it, is no big deal of you're having no symptoms, so don't stress or. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

9

Thanks a lot! 

Last question. 

The timeline of when we can be sure of the IgG antibodies. Do we wait from her last outbreak ( when she had the cold sores on her lip) or from when we think she was exposed ( Her last bf, which was 7 months ago). Like I said, I dated two people and i was their first kiss, its unlikely they have me hsv 2. 

Thank you so much for the feedback! 

10

Wait a month since the last ob minimum

11

Just an update. We have both waited three weeks and have both been tested negaitive for hsv 2. For those of you who run into this thread, dont always trust your doctor! Gather all the information! 

12

It is astounding the ignorance doctors have regarding herpes. It's as much as an epidemic as the disease itself. They are part of the reason it is an epidemic. So glad to hear you both tested negative, that is great news! Now let this be a lesson for you guys to never sleep w someone again, w out being tested first. Casual sex is just not worth the risk and just trusting someone that they are clean is not worth the risk.