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What Causes False Positives For HSV-1 While On Doxycycline?

Posted on Fri, 19 Feb 2016

Question: Can interferon medication cause false positive HSV test results?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not likely

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
Interferon is not medication which is known to cause false positive results for HSV so you should try to find another possible cause such as other viral infections or certain antibiotics. you can also repeat test if you have any doubts. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (16 minutes later)

I was taking Doxycycline when the test was performed. Would that trigger a false positive?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes

Detailed Answer:
hI.
Doxyciclin may lead to such results more common than interferon. So this is possible cause, but to be sure, just repeat HSV test 1 week after last pill of doxyclin.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (10 hours later)

Hi doctor, As I mentioned I had an HSV 2 IgG test positive result while on Doxycycline. My HSV 1 results were negative despite having oral sex with my partner. I have had no signs of genital herpes in my life. Is it possible I received a false positive from the antibiotic?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes but not common

Detailed Answer:
Hi and Welcome back to HCM.

This is possible but false positive result happens in less than 2% of cases.

You don't need to have symptoms of herpes to be positive.

You may have had infection at any age and virus in most cases become permanently dormant in our body. So it is more likely that you were in contact with herpes 2 Virus.

Let me know if there are any further queries.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (1 hour later)

Doctor,

This is very interesting. I had a girlfriend 20 years ago who had genital herpes but we used condoms. Over the past decade I have noticed 1-3 small red dots around my inner thigh above my knee. Again, I have never had a sore or bump on my penis or around it. My female partner for more than seven years has had no signs either. Could the positive test mean I was exposed and not infected where I could transfer HSV 2 to a partner? No other past partner has told me they have HSV 2.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (33 hours later)

Brief Answer:
it is possible

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes it is possible. Herpes may be present and never manifest. You are also infectious even if there are not sores, true the risk of transmission is lower but still possible.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad