Blood Test Positive HSV

Posted , 3 users are following.

I started showing symptoms of GH almost 7 weeks ago and since then the three or so sores I have will not heal even after the vatrex treatments and the beginings of suppresive treatment. I havent gotten conclusive answers from the two culture swabs that were taken but the blood test shows that i was positive for the IgM but there was nothing for the IgG. When I went back for the second swab my doctor gave me antibiotics for a possible staph or other bacterial infection. Im trying to learn all I can but does a positive IgM mean I DEFINITELY have GH or could it just be a staph infection? I'm coming to terms with my GH but I'm just confused that my symptoms are only getting worse and not showing signs of healing. I've only been taking the antibiotics for two days so far with no signs of change yet.

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7 Replies

  • Posted

    IgM testing is unreliable for herpes and prone to false positives, so not recommended by the CDC. Rely on swab tests and IgG testing, not IgM.
    • Posted

      Is it possible that I only have a staph infection since it isnt healing and the sores are getting larger? There are only three of them and two are very small but the main one has grown from the size of a pencil eraser to about the size of a nickel. To be honest I'm just very confused about all of this. I just want to feel normal again.

    • Posted

      Did your doctor swab it for other things? See if the antibiotics work, although they should normally kick in by 2 days. Fyi, Zovirax (acyclovir) cream is only for herpes. No prescription required from where I am, as it's just cream for oral cold sores.

    • Posted

      I've been taking the antibiotics for a few days now and I'm actually noticing significant improvement! They took another swab the last time I was at the doctor but I have yet to get those results. She said they were swabbing for a possible staph or bacterial infection.

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