r/HSVfalsepositive

I tested low positive 1.72/1.25 for HSV 1 & 2 with Quest.. no symptoms. Decided to confirm with WB thru Terri and it came back negative for both. Worth the effort for anyone thinking about it. Wish the doctor I went to at the time didn’t even mention that damn blood test.

Hey everyone 👋

I'm being a bit of a worry wart here, but wanted to run this situation by you all.

I received a 1.29 quest hsv2 with positive inhibition.

1 week after that I tested negative on the Roche platform.

1.5 weeks after that negative on Roche again.

No symptoms and my recent sexual history is:

8 months before quest protected sex (I am male, partner female).

3 weeks before quest protected sex.

2 weeks before quest protected sex.

All of the data points to the quest and inhibition being a false positive. While I'm technically in the hsv2 detection window (2/3 weeks quest and 4.5/5.5 weeks roche) if the quest had picked up antibodies that early they would have likely been increasing or maintaining over the next few weeks. Combine that with the enhanced sensitivity of the Roche, it should have caught it.

With all this info I have considered myself negative. Just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

Thanks!

Hello! I want to give many more hope and further understanding. False Positives even with high indexes do happen.

I have had quite an experience. I have always routinely screened and results are always negative.

I have not had sex in going on almost 3 years in a few months and the last time I did, my partner was negative, routinely—as was I and months later with screening I was negative and I have even been swabbed routinely as because I ask. I would like to preface by noting I feel very thankful to the physicians I have seen over the years as many wont screen.

My general history is that I am asthmatic, have dealt with many things and most recently had a bacterial infection where I was on antibiotics. During a routine screening HSV2 igG came back with a high index. When saying high index; above 15.

Again, this is routine, so swab, everything else comes back negative. The physician I spoke with, aware of my previous history and results going back years (always negative) strongly advised this is a false positive. She asked how I was feeling, mentally, and I shared that I immediately believed this is a false positive. My most recent screening is negative. She then explained how certain medications and other conditions can create proteins that cross react; in addition to overcoming a bacterial infection there were more than a few variables that contributed to this false positive.

I am in a low risk group and again, no sex in years; no unprotected sex in recent years; and from my last partner no unprotected sex and the last time I had sex was again almost three years ago and I was tested before and after that more than a few times. I just routinely would do so every few months.

physician was just as confident as I am in this being a false positive and with follow up is certain.

This has been leading me to further research on how other conditions, what proteins they create and why once a certain index value is perceived many physicians will just tell people that is it? Now, this physician is more of a specialist so her unique perspective and willingness to follow up — I am thankful for.

I hope that many more physicians will take into account a person’s full history and yes push for that western blot, push for follow up months later etc regardless of index value because yes even in a high index value a false positive can happen and it has happened!

Have faith. Pray. Believe in what you know to be true. Be a fierce advocate for yourself. There is a lot of information online; no matter what, be an advocate for yourself.

to have a physician warmly look me in my eyes and say she strongly believes this is a false positive, to follow up, to advocate for me as well is what I want to share and am sharing. To have her then say, this IS a false positive and explain all of what happened and why she understands my routine screening is why advocacy for not only a cure — advocacy for better screening and understand is needed. A false positive does not stop advocacy. A false positive makes advocacy louder.

Please also take note of the progress being made in china. The research and understanding. There are many people in the world who have experienced false positives of varying index values. there is a much larger scope of research taking place.

Have faith. Believe in what you know to be true. Pray. Research. And fiercely advocate for yourself.

Regardless of index value, if you believe this is a false positive; advocate for yourself and get the confirmation you need that it is a false positive.

Quest
HSV2 IGG 3.99
HSV2 IGG inhibition Positive

Not single sore, symptom, itch, fever or anything.

Should I do the consult with Terri?

Today my HSV test have come, i did IgG and IgM a test 2 days ago, and the results show Equivocal for HSV 2 IgG shows 1.14 as the range for Equivocal is 0.8 - 1.2 for my lab and for IgM its 1.04 in Equivocal. Iam freaking out right now, i dont want to live neither want to die. My last exposure was 6 weeks ago and it was protected and no oral, and earlier exposures were also protected, the method they did for IgG and IgM was ELISA

Has anyone have had false positive for both types? I was exposed to someone that said they tested positive (no index) for both types but they say they never had any symptoms and were completely shocked.

I haven’t tested yet, it’s only been 1.5 month.