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What Causes Positive HSV 2 Test With An IgG Value Of 1.8 Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 6 Jan 2015

Question: I was told yesterday that I tested positive for HSV 2 with an IGG number of 1.18. I also had the HSV IGM screening with was negative. What are the chances that this was a flase positive? I just don't know what to do.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not false positive but signals a past infection!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this test result and all the inconveniences that this has caused you. IgG signifies a past infection and IgM signifies a current infection.. Because IgM is negative, it means that at some point in the past you had been exposed to HSV2. Right now, unless you have some active symptoms, you are not going through an active infection.

I will suggest you stay calm and control the test as recommended. If the IgG are going up, then we would know there is fir real something going on and if they stay stable or go down, then there would be nothing to worry about.

I will not want to label this a false positive as they are unlikely. However, to know how common a false positive is using a test, we need the specific information about the methods and reagents used.

In all, be calm and relaxed. If there are any other symptoms, report to me. Otherwise, control these results and communicate findings to me in future. I wish you well and feel free to request for more information and clarifications if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (11 minutes later)

I have never shown any symptoms before, and don't have any now. I have been seeing someone with whom I am sexually active for the past 3 years and have not been with anyone other than here in close to 4 years. I'm wondering if there is any chance that I have had this all along as my current partner had not been sexually active prior to me.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It signals an old infection!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I will suggest you don't get bothered by this. I f I were your physician with no symptoms, I wouldn't have treated. I only treat if there are active sores.
Stay calm and control as suggested.

Also, you are not contagious without having ulcers or sores. This is an incidental finding and shouldn't scare you. Have you ever been tested for HSV this before?

I wish you well!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 minutes later)

I have been tested for STD's before, but I am not sure if I was specifically tested for HSV.

So I am scared now that I may have infected my partner unknowingly. I assume that I have to have this conversation with her now?

And when it comes to having sex with her, do I need to abstain from both vaginal and oral sex?

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Many persons are HSV IgG psoitive, yet not infective!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If there are no active sores, you cannot infect here. Have this discussion with her and let her get tested. As for me, there us no need taking any precautions as long as there are no active sores.

I hope this helps. I wish you well.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar