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Have Been Diagnosed With Herpes , But I Have Proof
Question: have been diagnosed with herpes, but I have proof that none of sexual partners has it. How could this be?
have been diagnosed with herpes, but I have proof that none of sexual partners has it. How could this be?
Brief Answer:
Possible reasons for this explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
It is important for me to know the following information:
- did you have any symptoms (genital lesions such as blisters) or you just had a routine blood test for HSV?
- did you have any test of the fluids from the blisters?
- did you have it specified if it was HSV1 or HSV2?
- did your partners have the blood test for HSV or you think they do not have the infection because they do not have genital lesions?
- did your partners have a repeat test for HSV?
The reason for these questions is:
- there are cases that blood tests indicate herpes infection and this is not the case (we call this false-positive result). So, if you have only a positive blood test for HSV but do not have genital lesions, a false-positive test can be considered if your partners truly do not have the infection.
- if you have had genital blisters and especially if you had PCR test of the secretions from the blisters, it is more likely you truly have genital herpes
- as for your partners, the lack of genital lesions (blisters) does not mean they do not have the infection. Also, antibodies in blood for HSV may take a few weeks to a few months to show up in some patients, so the blood test should be repeated in 4 months before saying for sure a patient does not have genital herpes infection.
- finally, it is important to know if it was specified if this was HSV1 or HSV2 infection as sometimes HSV1, which is the virus that causes cold sores on the lips, can be transmitted in the genital area during oral sex and cause similar lesions as HSV2 (which is exclusive sexually transmitted). So, this means that HSV 1 from one partner can be transmitted to the genitals of another and give a clinical picture of the sexually transmitted infection from HSV2.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Possible reasons for this explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
It is important for me to know the following information:
- did you have any symptoms (genital lesions such as blisters) or you just had a routine blood test for HSV?
- did you have any test of the fluids from the blisters?
- did you have it specified if it was HSV1 or HSV2?
- did your partners have the blood test for HSV or you think they do not have the infection because they do not have genital lesions?
- did your partners have a repeat test for HSV?
The reason for these questions is:
- there are cases that blood tests indicate herpes infection and this is not the case (we call this false-positive result). So, if you have only a positive blood test for HSV but do not have genital lesions, a false-positive test can be considered if your partners truly do not have the infection.
- if you have had genital blisters and especially if you had PCR test of the secretions from the blisters, it is more likely you truly have genital herpes
- as for your partners, the lack of genital lesions (blisters) does not mean they do not have the infection. Also, antibodies in blood for HSV may take a few weeks to a few months to show up in some patients, so the blood test should be repeated in 4 months before saying for sure a patient does not have genital herpes infection.
- finally, it is important to know if it was specified if this was HSV1 or HSV2 infection as sometimes HSV1, which is the virus that causes cold sores on the lips, can be transmitted in the genital area during oral sex and cause similar lesions as HSV2 (which is exclusive sexually transmitted). So, this means that HSV 1 from one partner can be transmitted to the genitals of another and give a clinical picture of the sexually transmitted infection from HSV2.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Possible reasons for this explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
It is important for me to know the following information:
- did you have any symptoms (genital lesions such as blisters) or you just had a routine blood test for HSV?
- did you have any test of the fluids from the blisters?
- did you have it specified if it was HSV1 or HSV2?
- did your partners have the blood test for HSV or you think they do not have the infection because they do not have genital lesions?
- did your partners have a repeat test for HSV?
The reason for these questions is:
- there are cases that blood tests indicate herpes infection and this is not the case (we call this false-positive result). So, if you have only a positive blood test for HSV but do not have genital lesions, a false-positive test can be considered if your partners truly do not have the infection.
- if you have had genital blisters and especially if you had PCR test of the secretions from the blisters, it is more likely you truly have genital herpes
- as for your partners, the lack of genital lesions (blisters) does not mean they do not have the infection. Also, antibodies in blood for HSV may take a few weeks to a few months to show up in some patients, so the blood test should be repeated in 4 months before saying for sure a patient does not have genital herpes infection.
- finally, it is important to know if it was specified if this was HSV1 or HSV2 infection as sometimes HSV1, which is the virus that causes cold sores on the lips, can be transmitted in the genital area during oral sex and cause similar lesions as HSV2 (which is exclusive sexually transmitted). So, this means that HSV 1 from one partner can be transmitted to the genitals of another and give a clinical picture of the sexually transmitted infection from HSV2.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Possible reasons for this explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
It is important for me to know the following information:
- did you have any symptoms (genital lesions such as blisters) or you just had a routine blood test for HSV?
- did you have any test of the fluids from the blisters?
- did you have it specified if it was HSV1 or HSV2?
- did your partners have the blood test for HSV or you think they do not have the infection because they do not have genital lesions?
- did your partners have a repeat test for HSV?
The reason for these questions is:
- there are cases that blood tests indicate herpes infection and this is not the case (we call this false-positive result). So, if you have only a positive blood test for HSV but do not have genital lesions, a false-positive test can be considered if your partners truly do not have the infection.
- if you have had genital blisters and especially if you had PCR test of the secretions from the blisters, it is more likely you truly have genital herpes
- as for your partners, the lack of genital lesions (blisters) does not mean they do not have the infection. Also, antibodies in blood for HSV may take a few weeks to a few months to show up in some patients, so the blood test should be repeated in 4 months before saying for sure a patient does not have genital herpes infection.
- finally, it is important to know if it was specified if this was HSV1 or HSV2 infection as sometimes HSV1, which is the virus that causes cold sores on the lips, can be transmitted in the genital area during oral sex and cause similar lesions as HSV2 (which is exclusive sexually transmitted). So, this means that HSV 1 from one partner can be transmitted to the genitals of another and give a clinical picture of the sexually transmitted infection from HSV2.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I have what I believed to be an ingrown hair that turned into a blister followed by three small flesh colored bumps a couple days later. The flesh colored bumps went away the next day. I got a blood test with the IgG of 5.81 for HSV II. My sexual partners have also had blood tests done for both I and II that had a low IgG making them negative. I%E2%80%99ve never seen an outbreak or cold sore on any one of them.
I have what I believed to be an ingrown hair that turned into a blister followed by three small flesh colored bumps a couple days later. The flesh colored bumps went away the next day. I got a blood test with the IgG of 5.81 for HSV II. My sexual partners have also had blood tests done for both I and II that had a low IgG making them negative. I%E2%80%99ve never seen an outbreak or cold sore on any one of them.
Brief Answer:
It seems you have HSV 2 infection which is a sexually transmitted disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Having genital blister and also a positive IgG for HSV2 then very likely this is a real HSV2 infection and this is almost always considered a sexually transmitted infection.
I would say that the possible scenario in your case is that one of your partners may still have the infection but has not yet had a seroconversion (meaning, may need a bit longer for the antibodies to show up in the blood). As explained above, in some patients, IgG may take a few months before it shows in blood.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
It seems you have HSV 2 infection which is a sexually transmitted disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Having genital blister and also a positive IgG for HSV2 then very likely this is a real HSV2 infection and this is almost always considered a sexually transmitted infection.
I would say that the possible scenario in your case is that one of your partners may still have the infection but has not yet had a seroconversion (meaning, may need a bit longer for the antibodies to show up in the blood). As explained above, in some patients, IgG may take a few months before it shows in blood.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
It seems you have HSV 2 infection which is a sexually transmitted disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Having genital blister and also a positive IgG for HSV2 then very likely this is a real HSV2 infection and this is almost always considered a sexually transmitted infection.
I would say that the possible scenario in your case is that one of your partners may still have the infection but has not yet had a seroconversion (meaning, may need a bit longer for the antibodies to show up in the blood). As explained above, in some patients, IgG may take a few months before it shows in blood.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
It seems you have HSV 2 infection which is a sexually transmitted disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Having genital blister and also a positive IgG for HSV2 then very likely this is a real HSV2 infection and this is almost always considered a sexually transmitted infection.
I would say that the possible scenario in your case is that one of your partners may still have the infection but has not yet had a seroconversion (meaning, may need a bit longer for the antibodies to show up in the blood). As explained above, in some patients, IgG may take a few months before it shows in blood.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
What are the chances of having a false positive?
What are the chances of having a false positive?
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
The chances of false-positive results depend on the result of the test. For values between 1.1 to 3.5 the accuracy is around 50% which means in this range up to half of the results may be suspicious.
If the test shows a value over 3.5 the accuracy of the test is around 90%. This means that in your case (a value higher than 3.5), it is a 1 in 10 chance that the result may not be accurate. This mostly is considered in patients that are not at risk for sexually transmitted infections.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
The chances of false-positive results depend on the result of the test. For values between 1.1 to 3.5 the accuracy is around 50% which means in this range up to half of the results may be suspicious.
If the test shows a value over 3.5 the accuracy of the test is around 90%. This means that in your case (a value higher than 3.5), it is a 1 in 10 chance that the result may not be accurate. This mostly is considered in patients that are not at risk for sexually transmitted infections.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
The chances of false-positive results depend on the result of the test. For values between 1.1 to 3.5 the accuracy is around 50% which means in this range up to half of the results may be suspicious.
If the test shows a value over 3.5 the accuracy of the test is around 90%. This means that in your case (a value higher than 3.5), it is a 1 in 10 chance that the result may not be accurate. This mostly is considered in patients that are not at risk for sexually transmitted infections.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
The chances of false-positive results depend on the result of the test. For values between 1.1 to 3.5 the accuracy is around 50% which means in this range up to half of the results may be suspicious.
If the test shows a value over 3.5 the accuracy of the test is around 90%. This means that in your case (a value higher than 3.5), it is a 1 in 10 chance that the result may not be accurate. This mostly is considered in patients that are not at risk for sexually transmitted infections.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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