Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does This Lab Report For Herpes Indicate?
Question: i just got a call from the doctors saying i have herpes. I want to know if that if was a mistake. Here is my results.
Brief Answer:
IgM formed first
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
When an infection occurs, the body responds by making substances called antibodies.
These help the body fight the infection and also show that the particular infection is present in the body.
First IgM antibodies are formed then after a while IgG antibodies are formed.
This means that when an infection is recent, tests may only pick up the IgM and the IgG can be picked up with later tests (because it is formed later)
Your result showed IgM but the IgG is not present as yet.
This means that you likely do have the infection though result not clear (cause IgM formed first and picked up first).
It does not say which was found however , the test is combined.
It would be best to know because if it is HSV1, this is very very common, most persons have this.
This is the one that can cause mouth sores/cold sores.
It can cause genital infection because of oral sex but if it does occur in the genital region it does not cause as severe an infection as HSV 2 and also does not cause as much recurrences.
You might want to consider retesting in 6 weeks to 2 months, to check IgG for specific HSV 1 or 2
This would give definitive answer
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
IgM formed first
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
When an infection occurs, the body responds by making substances called antibodies.
These help the body fight the infection and also show that the particular infection is present in the body.
First IgM antibodies are formed then after a while IgG antibodies are formed.
This means that when an infection is recent, tests may only pick up the IgM and the IgG can be picked up with later tests (because it is formed later)
Your result showed IgM but the IgG is not present as yet.
This means that you likely do have the infection though result not clear (cause IgM formed first and picked up first).
It does not say which was found however , the test is combined.
It would be best to know because if it is HSV1, this is very very common, most persons have this.
This is the one that can cause mouth sores/cold sores.
It can cause genital infection because of oral sex but if it does occur in the genital region it does not cause as severe an infection as HSV 2 and also does not cause as much recurrences.
You might want to consider retesting in 6 weeks to 2 months, to check IgG for specific HSV 1 or 2
This would give definitive answer
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
