Confused about test results

[smiles4u]

Hi there. I am not sure if I'm posting in the right place or not. Please just tell me where to post if this is wrong.

I've had herpes for a year. I was diagnosed by culture and apparently the cultures then could only give a "yes" or "no" to herpes in general - not distinguish the type. My doctor recently did a blood test to find out which type I have so that I know if I need to be concerned with my partner who has type I or not, and it came back negative for both types. The CBC recommends that I just get a culture done when I have another outbreak now that the cultures can specify type. However, I am more concerned about WHY I tested negative for both types on the blood test. Symptomatically, there is no doubt I have herpes, and the culture confirmed it. Is something wrong with my immune system that I'm not producing antibodies? Does anyone have any information?

[Caliope]

Are you having frequent ob's? If your immune system is keeping you from having ob's your antibody level may be very low.

[smiles4u]

I have had about 4 outbreaks in the last year, and the blood test was done right after I healed from the last one. I kind of expected the antibodies to be high, if anything, since they just (allegedly) fought the active virus....

[Caliope]

that is weird but may explain the frequency of ob's.

I am not a dr but I recommend that you find more ways to boost your immune system such as adding vitamin supplements. Such as vitamin's b, c, d, e and bioflavanoids, and calcium/magnesium, zinc and perhaps probiotics.

as for the testing the most reliable is the swab and culture which only works if you have an active blister that contains fluid. Hsv is difficult to culture in the lab and this is why a positive is a very reliable result. I am surprised that they could not determine which strand it was.

[smiles4u]

Thanks for the advice. After I was diagnosed, I began taking a multivitamin supplement plus 1000mg vitamin C every day - religiously. When I have an outbreak, I take a ton of immune boosters, but none of it seems to help. I just have to wait it out for two weeks. I can't afford Valtrex for suppression, so I was taking acyclovir (Zovirax) for a few months and looking back I think it helped. Anyway, I am just baffled by this because it seems like something must be wrong with my immune system but my doctor isn't the least bit concerned.

[Caliope]

maybe you want to see another dr or ask for complete blood work to see if there are any reasons that your immune system is behaving this way.

I'd concentrate less on the hsv antibodies and more on overall health. Nothing changes overnight and it's about complete health: eating, sleeping, exercise, drinking lots of water and avoiding activities that compromise immune function such as smoking and excessive alcohol.

I just read some research on how important it is to take your vitamin c with vitamin e and bioflavanoids because they work to strengthen the walls of the heart.

As for the antivirals I haven't tried Valtrex but the Acyclovir works well for me but I need to take it 2-3 times a day every day.

[Confused01]

Testing Pro's and Con's

Anyone,

Now I'm confused again... hey I did pick the right name after all.

Ok... my culture came back positive yet weird as it may seem I had no active blisters, no sores etc... thus I'm not really sure what he swab to get the culture but none the less I was told by my dr. that the culture only states positive or negative and to get more specific results I needed a blood test. True or False?

Also from what I read about the immune system playing a big role in this whole H thing would it be safe to say I have a strong one because I exhibit virtually no symptoms other than maybe red irritation and mild discomfort with none of the other known symptoms? Even when I do get stressed, worried or upset nothing happens.

And... curious if it's possible to test positive in a culture but negative in a blood test? What's this whole viral load thing I've been reading about what does it really mean? And, is it possible for me to have H and not the jerk that gave it to me... my dr. said yes, can that be true? Or will he just need to re-test again in a few months or can men be carriers and never actually become infected with it?

I'm trying to really understand this whole thing. A week into it and I'm still lost and confused. ha thus the name.

All answers, comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Thank you

[Caliope]

Help me now I am confused too.

confused01 - let me get this straight. you've never had an ob and you've never had a postive blood test but supposedly you have had a positive culture for hsv.

that does not sound right to me. do I have the details wrong? what is missing here?

If this is true and I have the details right then you should see another dr and have the testing repeated. Except if the lab mixed up your culture with someone elses.

[BoxofRain]

Ive read on here a few cases where the people had symptoms (not necesarily typical symptoms either) and their blood came back negative for months or even longer, but yet they clearly had herpes so it is more possible than it seems. that is why I also think some people get tested and get a negative blood result but actually do have it in certain cases. It is not possible for someone to "Not have herpes" and give it to you. If the person you "suspect" has herpes but yet has tested negative and does not exhibit symptoms he most likely didnt give it to you and doesnt carry it ( but could be something similar to how its not showing up in your blood depending ...maybe a rare strain or something else going on in him as well....but chances are slim about that scenario) And if someone carries the virus, they HAVE it.....theres no such thing as a carrier who does not have the virus. There are a lot of people who carry the virus( and are contagious just the same), shed it without symptoms ever being visible and dont know they have it though so that is very possible. You say you only get redness, very mild signs if any, except for a blister or something you had swabed a while back that was positive for herpes, correct? It is possible to have a culture show its herpes, but not have it show in the blood for whatever reason, doesnt seem to be a definitive reason but I know it does happen sometimes for certain people.....maybe it has to do with the strain you have..maybe its not a typical one. I hope you get some more testing and regardless of the result of the blood test you say there is no mistaking that you have herpes so just go with that instinct and act accordingly. The redness you experience can often be a sign the virus is active on the skin and perhaps the second culture they did recently (if I understand correct....let me know if Im confused here) did in fact pick up the virus again, as it was on the skin and active at the time of whatever area they swabed. Best to go to different doctors, different labs for additional cultures and blood tests in the future as well so you have something to compare. But, a positive swab is usually always right on, but a negative blood test doesnt necessarily mean you dont have herpes so it can be confusing. Even if your blood never tests positive for herpes antibodies (or takes a really long time to finally show up), you can still have the virus. It works in funny ways and its possible to not show up in the blood.....and Im not sure there has to be something wrong with your body if the antibodies dont show up.....ask a few different doctors...try and find a specialist if at all possible, as they might be the only one who knows in great detail about the many ways this virus can present or "hide" . good luck

[Confused01]

Boxofrain & Caliope

From what I have read of other people stories on here I have to admit I have experience none of it.

My OBG took a culture and said I had H. What had confused me was this. The main reason I went to see him was because of my cyst I had which was confirmed by another doctor to be in fact a cyst on my right side. The area was red no swelling no itching it just hurt right where the lump was which was under my skin and not above my skin. Thus I researched it and found this...

It is not uncommon for women to fear that these bumps or lumps under the skin may be genital herpes. The fact is that genital herpes creates a completely different kind of sore -- a blister-type sore that eventually becomes crusty -- not just a bump or lump under the skin. Very often, after careful inspection by a qualified health care professional, these under-the-skin bumps and lumps are found to be sebaceous cysts which are sometimes called epidermal cysts.

Can you believe how shocked I was when he said it was H and I was only going in for the cyst. No... there were no blisters and no sores so I don't know what he cultured? The skin itself where it was red maybe? Anyway I am getting a blood test done this Friday so we shall see. The ex partner I was speaking of said he had a blood test but I'm not so sure I believe him. My OBG is the one who said it is possible for him to test negative and me positive which is what confused me.

In Dec. my OBG diagnosed me for BV infection and gave me medication which cleared it up within 2 or 3 days. Now I have read that medications like that won't cure an H ob so if in fact I was actually having an H ob and was misdiagnosed again then how come the medication worked and so quickly?

So confused....

[Caliope]

Confused01

well as far as blood testing goes the difference often between tests for two different partners can come down to timing and the presence of antibodies to hsv. So one may be infected a little earlier or later than the other and one will test positive and the other negative. Which is why so many of us recommend testing again later if you are testing negative and you know your partner is positive. Sometimes it takes a while for the antibodies to get to a sufficient number.

As far as swab cultures, it is very difficult to grow hsv in the lab so if you get a swab and the culture comes up positive it is a very reliable result. The problem again could be timing, as you need to get to the dr while there is still active virus present on an active ob. You can have an ob but it could be healing and simply not show up in the culture and then you have to wait and do it again. And who sits around hoping for a genital herpes ob. Yep, you're right NO ONE.

What you describe still sounds fishy to me. I really recommend that you get tested again so you can be sure. A yeast infection will not heal up from antivirals nor will BV. Similarly antibiotics will heal up BV but will probably make yeast worse and do nothing for hsv. Medications for yeast infections will cure the yeast and maybe help the hsv but will not cure BV. Time will cause hsv ob's to heal up but not yeast or a BV.

So it is no wonder you are confused.

[Confused01]

Caliope

So what you're saying is that if I do have H and my ex states he tested negative through a blood test... again knowing him and god knows who he has been with beside me and his wife... no people I did not know he was married...it's possible it's just not showing up in his system yet? Meaning if he tested 4 months from now it then might show? Curious as to why would it show in mine 7 months later but not his? Also it took almost 2 weeks to get my culture back and yet he got his blood test results back in a week is that possible?

Here is the scoop.. in Oct. my doc thought I had a yeast infection and was 100% positive it was not H thus he prescribed me Diflucan BOOM it was gone in a few days. Came back 4 weeks later in Dec. he looked again said he was mistaken the last time and it was a Bacterial infection which is why the Diflucan didn't work as well meaning keep the problem gone thus he prescribe me Vandazole (Metronidazole) BOOM everything gone in a few days and once again when questioned he was 100% sure it was not H. From the 1st week in Dec. till just 2 weeks ago I was 100% perfect not a single problem. Go back for the cysts thing and well you know the rest. He even said well it looks like it's healed so the test will probably come back negative yet two weeks later it comes back positive and now he tells me he may have misdiagnosed me in Oct. and Dec. Then why in the heck did the previous meds work beautifully and clear up everything in a matter of 2 or 3 days?

The funny thing is I can't even tell if I'm having an ob because when I get a little red or irritated I put some medicated powder on my dermatologist gave me and it goes away.

I guess I have a very strong immune system or a very small viral load... is that the correct way to say this? Or is it I'm recently infected so my symptoms aren't that strong? Heck I don't know anymore.

[Caliope]

Confused01 -I wouldn't necessarily call an infection in December a new infection. I also don't know why he is testing negative. This is where I just don't have the information to answer the question about bloodwork. But I have heard of people who are infact positive for hsv who have negative tests either immediately after infection or many years afterwards and when having no ob's.

He could be lying. I wonder if his wife has it? As for the yeast infections and the BV it sounds like the medications did work but your dr is making diagnoses based on visual instead of lab work. I'd swear my obgyn told me that they could confirm a yeast infection with a swab if necessary. It should also be true with BV. Why guess?

Can you, or are you able to see a different dr? Somewhere on this site there is information about blood tests but not on the main page and it discusses accuracy and kinds of testing methods. If I find it I'll post the link.

[Confused01]

Caliope

No not a new infection, I guess the same one and my doc just didn't diagnose it correctly, but on the 2nd time around he did swab. And yes the medicatins did work they worked great! He also tested for all other STD's except the obvious and I was good to go.

I think he is lying. His first response was "I don't have any symptoms" I was like duh neither did I. I wonder if she has it too. Back in Nov. when all hell broke loose I told her to go get checked, don't know if she ever did.

I've made an appt. with a new OBG but she isn't available until June 19th so here I wait. I've been trying to find info about the blood tests and i keep coming up empty. I found these 3 and saw these were suppose to be the ones to request and their accuracy rate was like 97% or 98% correct, but you have to ask for one of these and not just a blood test. (HerpesSelect® HSV-1 and HSV-2 ELISA or HerpesSelect HSV-1 and HSV-2 Immunoblot)

[Brucie]

I hear you about the confusion. I'm still a babe s far as that goes. But I'm heartened to know that you're symptoms are so few and you didn't have blisters either. I haven't had a blister yet that I know of, only redness, itching, pain (lotsa pain, btw) and some flu like feelings of being exhausted and sleepy and headachy. Where are my blisters too I wonder? Unless they are so small I can't see them. I do have low vision and even with glasses I can barely see my privates clearly. Of course I had a yeast infection at the same time as my OB so that didn't help me recognize a bloody thing.

[Caliope]

that yeast type stuff sometimes isn't yeast at all. I think its from internal hsv blisters sloughing off. the consistency just isn't yeast and it acts different.

just my observation.

[Confused01]

Yep I hear you both and it sucks. This whole dang H thing just sucks and I hate it!!!

Not sure if I care for docs too much either anymore since according to the doc... no blisters were inside and the test in Dec. determined Bacterial Infection according to him that is, which like I stated previously he gave me the proper medication to clear that specific infection up and it was gone in about 3 days although I continued as instructed for the full 5 days.

As for my symptoms there was no itching, no pain other than right where the cyst was that had formed under my skin, no flu like symptoms, no weakness, not tired in fact full of energy.

As of today... I have experienced major stress to the point of several breakdowns for various reasons not just the obvious and although I do watch what I eat I don't stay away from the foods they say not to eat when you have this (h) I don't avoid the heat or sunlight I work-out all the time etc... and have yet to have any problems what so ever so.... what ever it is I'm doing I must be doing something right.