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What Causes False Positive For HSV 2 In An IgG Test While On Doxycycline?
Question: 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?
Brief Answer:
No Doxycycline doesn't cause that. But false positive rates are high in HSV
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for asking HCM
I have gone through your query. Doxycycline doesn't cause a false positive hSV2. but HSV false positive rates are high. As you didn't had clinical symptoms it can be false positive. There is no recommendations for testing HSV those who didn't had HSV . If your partner had clinical infection then your result can be considered more towards positive.
in such case you can check immunoglobulin titres.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
No Doxycycline doesn't cause that. But false positive rates are high in HSV
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for asking HCM
I have gone through your query. Doxycycline doesn't cause a false positive hSV2. but HSV false positive rates are high. As you didn't had clinical symptoms it can be false positive. There is no recommendations for testing HSV those who didn't had HSV . If your partner had clinical infection then your result can be considered more towards positive.
in such case you can check immunoglobulin titres.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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.
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.
Brief Answer:
In that case the chance of having HSV for you is less.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up.
In that case the chance of having HSV for you is very less. Your HSV 2 test can be most likely a false positive also. HSV 2 doesn't come as dots. It is presented as fluid filled bumps associated with itching , burning or pain sensation.
People who doesn't have HSV or didn't had contact with HSV positive partners recently are not recommended for HSV tests as a false positive test can give unnecessary tensions. You don't need to think and worry about it as you didn't had a positive partner recently and a positive clinical disease.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
In that case the chance of having HSV for you is less.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.
Thank you for your follow up.
In that case the chance of having HSV for you is very less. Your HSV 2 test can be most likely a false positive also. HSV 2 doesn't come as dots. It is presented as fluid filled bumps associated with itching , burning or pain sensation.
People who doesn't have HSV or didn't had contact with HSV positive partners recently are not recommended for HSV tests as a false positive test can give unnecessary tensions. You don't need to think and worry about it as you didn't had a positive partner recently and a positive clinical disease.
Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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