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Swab test v PCR test

Psyc4herbs

By Psyc4herbs,
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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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My doctor recently ordered a PCR blood test for HSV and it came back negative. However in January after 2 weeks of cuts I had a swab test and it came back positive. 

Which is the true diagnosis? 

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Tone123 Established Member

Tone123

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54 minutes ago, Psyc4herbs said:

My doctor recently ordered a PCR blood test for HSV and it came back negative. However in January after 2 weeks of cuts I had a swab test and it came back positive. 

Which is the true diagnosis? 

How long ago was the exposure of concern. You may have did the bloodwork too soon at the time. Did you retest after the positive swab? You really can't argue about the swab. That's the most accurate unless it's mishandled at the lab. 

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Tone123 Established Member

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I misread that if you had a positive swab in january and neg blood recently after about 6 months. That should be enough time. I'm testing negative at 8 months post. 

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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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The clinician who took the swab said it didn't look like herpes and it was also healing up so I was shocked at the positive diagnosis. I was reading up and learned that a positive diagnosis can happen from a swab if it's a cotton swab(not a scraping of lesions) and it's not within a certain time frame from the breakouts. 

Anyways I have had no breakouts since, no prodrome since, so I asked my GP to send my bloods. He said a blood PCR would be better than an IGG? or something to that effect. My urine and blood came back negative for HSV. 

The blood test was a PCR test rather than an antibody test. Does a PCR work if the virus is latent? 

I am booking a follow on appointment to ask for the IgG test just to be sure. 

7 minutes ago, Tone123 said:

How long ago was the exposure of concern. You may have did the bloodwork too soon at the time. Did you retest after the positive swab? You really can't argue about the swab. That's the most accurate unless it's mishandled at the lab. 

 

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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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3 minutes ago, Tone123 said:

I misread that if you had a positive swab in january and neg blood recently after about 6 months. That should be enough time. I'm testing negative at 8 months post. 

Any idea why it came positive other than that it was too close to a heal or possibly mishandled at a lab.

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Tone123 Established Member

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Yes definetly get the type specific igG.. it's more accurate. Especially if it's been 6 months. You don't need a doc if you're in the u.s. there is websites u can order it and they email the results. Try stdcheck.com if u can't get to your doc soon enough. 

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Tone123 Established Member

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3 minutes ago, Psyc4herbs said:

Any idea why it came positive other than that it was too close to a heal or possibly mishandled at a lab.

I've always heard best time for a swab is within the 48 hrs period honestly. 

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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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6 minutes ago, Tone123 said:

Yes definetly get the type specific igG.. it's more accurate. Especially if it's been 6 months. You don't need a doc if you're in the u.s. there is websites u can order it and they email the results. Try stdcheck.com if u can't get to your doc soon enough. 

I'm ok to wait. I've had 6 months of sleepless nights, itchy hands, psychosomatic illnesses and just general depression. I'd be angry if the igG came back positive now because of the hope I now have. 

My question is is the blood PCR accurate for 6 months after exposure or is it accurate only when it's a live virus.

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Tone123 Established Member

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10 minutes ago, Psyc4herbs said:

I'm ok to wait. I've had 6 months of sleepless nights, itchy hands, psychosomatic illnesses and just general depression. I'd be angry if the igG came back positive now because of the hope I now have. 

My question is is the blood PCR accurate for 6 months after exposure or is it accurate only when it's a live virus.

That I'm honestly not sure of. I'll let someone else chime in. I do kno type specific igG is most accurate without lesions to swab. 

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Quest Platinum Support Member

Quest

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What an incredible case!

But you said you had herpes cuts and tested positive.  I would think positive, but I would break the tie with Western Blot! PCR is usually accurate.

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WilsoInAus Platinum Support Member

WilsoInAus

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Hey @Psyc4herbs the PCR on blood is the wrong test. HSV 1/2 is not generally found in the blood of infected people. It is not an accurate test at any time.

The correct blood test is for IgG antibodies type specific for HSV-1 and HSV-2. If your doctor thinks otherwise, then they are not correct. PCR is useful for swabs of lesions.

If the swab was a PCR then you will know type. 

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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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I have since spoken to the doctor and I'm informed that if I was Positive with HSV2 I would have had further breakouts in the last 6 months. He said my history suggests the test was maybe contaminated/mixed up. 

I've asked for an IGG test and he again said I shouldn't take anymore tests unless I breakout or have some symptoms but should forget about it. 

He said PCR blood test was accurate and something would have come up if I was positive. 

What you guys think? Definitely go for igG test to be 100% sure it accept that I don't have anything? 

The initial "outbreak" was a cut on the side of my shaft and one at the base of my penis. Both have left little thin skin scars. The test was done 2 weeks after the "outbreak" so could that have compromised the test.

We had rough sex and it did hurt at the time. I wonder if that cut me. The girl I had sex with also got tested and was negative.

I have spoken to a friend who also had a contaminated Chlamydia sample. 

The worst thing is this gives me hope I don't have it. Surely id have had further outbreaks if I indeed have GHSV2? Nothing. 

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Psyc4herbs Honeycomb Member

Psyc4herbs

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54 minutes ago, Quest said:

What an incredible case!

But you said you had herpes cuts and tested positive.  I would think positive, but I would break the tie with Western Blot! PCR is usually accurate.

I think I will. I'm just nervous about it all again. I really hope it's negative. I really don't want a discussion with a potential partner. 

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WilsoInAus Platinum Support Member

WilsoInAus

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Hey @Psyc4herbs I’m sorry to say the doc is bordering on incompetent regards herpes.

Did you actually see the swab result?

I’d be seeing a new doc for IgG testing, see if you can get your medical records from the current doc.

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