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Help!!!! Can I have HSV2 without an outbreak. Is there a test to confirm?

Andrew41

By Andrew41
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Andrew41 Newbie

Andrew41

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Long story but... my (almost) ex-wife is accusing me of having cheated and given her HSV2. The problem is, I never cheated. So either one of us had it before we got married, or she was unfaithful and won't admit it.

I went to get a blood test to confirm that I do not have it but I was told that because I had Chicken Pox when I was a child, the blood test will indicate "positive", whether or not I have HSV2. They did do a urethra culture; I am waiting on the results.

I have NEVER had an outbreak or any symptoms. Is it possible that I caught it without an outbreak or any symptoms? Is there a blood test that can differentiate between Chicken Pox and HSV2? I'm 99% sure that I do not have HSV2, need a test that can prove it.

Thanks,

Andrew

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RealisticGal Platinum Support Member

RealisticGal

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Hi Andrew,

First of all, it sounds like you are going through a really rough time right now. Herpes can cause a lot of emotional upheaval, especially within a relationship, when it causes a suspicion of infidelity.

Know this --- it is definitely possible that either or both of you could have had herpes prior to your marriage, and brought it into the relationship. HSV can lie dormant, without any symptoms, for years. It is estimated that about 70% of those who have herpes do not know it, because of this asymptomatic/latent nature of the virus.

Does your wife know with absolute certainty that she has HSV2? Has she had a typed culture or a type specific blood test (IgG-based), or is her doctor just assuming it is HSV2 because it is in her genital area? This is an important point you will need to find out in order to clarify the situation.

The person who told you that about blood tests and chicken pox is both right and wrong.

The old technology was IgM-only blood testing, and that type of test definitely can cross-react with the Varicella Zoster (chickenpox) Virus to show a false positive result. Here's an explanation of that:

Intro to Blood Testing

The reason that person was wrong, is because there is now a more accurate type of blood test available.

However, some docs are not aware that the newer technology is much more accurate and will give you a type-specific determination of whether you have HSV1 or HSV2 or both or neither. I want you to read this page to help you understand some of the issues around the diagnosis of herpes:

Herpes Diagnosis

The sort of test you need to get is a TYPE SPECIFIC IgG-BASED HERPES BLOOD TEST. Here is some info that should help with getting the proper test. You can even print it out and take it to your doctor. If you find your doctor is reluctant, or does not have the test available, you should be able to find a local clinic that would do it.

Getting an Accurate Blood Test

How Can You Get an Accurate Herpes Blood Test?

Hope this helps.

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RealisticGal Platinum Support Member

RealisticGal

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HSV1 versus HSV2

Just want to address the point I made above about whether or not your wife knows for sure that her infection is due to HSV2 (versus HSV1)...

Genital herpes is often assumed to be caused by HSV2, because that strain is "at home" in the genital area.

In contrast, HSV1 is "at home" in the oral/facial area. It causes most cases of oral herpes.

However, either type (1 or 2) can cause infection in either area.

Why is this important?

About 80% of the North American population is estimated to have oral herpes by the time they reach adulthood. Most contracted the virus by way of casual (non-sexual) contact such as a kiss on the cheek from a family member or friend or sharing a saliva-covered toy with another child. Many of those who have it are asymptomatic and do not know it. But they can still pass herpes on to uninfected individuals.

So...it is possible that you and/or your wife might have had oral herpes, caused by HSV1, without knowing it since you were kids.

Now, flash forward to this relationship. If one of you was infected with oral herpes and the other wasn't, the virus could be passed orally to the uninfected partner through kissing. If one of you has oral herpes and gives the uninfected partner oral sex, the uninfected person could get genital herpes caused by HSV1.

So if your wife has not had a TYPE SPECIFIC test to be sure her genital infection is caused by HSV2, it is possible she might actually have genital HSV1.

If that were the case, it could have been caused by an unrecognized oral HSV1 infection, which you might have had since childhood.

So, you both need to be type tested to see for sure:

  • if you have herpes
  • what type you have, if so
  • what type your wife has

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