herpes simplex 2

I had the "cut" swabbed and they sent it to the lab, let it grow and that's how they found out what it was. I just had this test done a week ago. And I have been with no one but him since the last time I had all my tests done before this last testing.

He is going to get tested soon, as I just found out today and also told him today, so he is going to get tested ASAP.

I just want to know that I couldn't have had this before now, since my last set of tests all came back okay

The tests I had done before we're just swabbing of the vagina/cervix etc I always made sure they tested for everything.... and I never had an open wound or abrasion or nothing before now

Viral culture swabs can give false negatives, much more than pcr swabs. It is very possible, however, that your current partner has it. He should do the IgG test to see ifhe's an existing carrier.

What is a pcr swab? They only did the viral swab of the cut thing because I had it at that time... and I'm assuming that's the outbreak, right?

Mind if I ask in these terms what is a false negative when it comes to this exact thing?

And what kind of test is the igg test? Is that the blood one?

Sorry if I see naive or oblivious I'm just new to all of this and scared is all. I'm trying to look at all options, and when I could have contracted it since my last testing before this came back everything okay and now it's not

That's okay, I understand.

There are two types of swab tests: viral culture, which requires viable live virus, and pcr, which tests for amplified dna. Pcr is naturally more sensitive and accurate, and doesn't require new lesions (or even any at all, if looking for evidence of shedding only). Most people end up having a viral culture, however, like you I suspect, and this test type can be more prone to false negatives (i.e., negative result when you are actually positive). A positive is a positive, however.

It is therefore possible that your first swab missed an infection, since you did not have lesions, but as you've never had symptoms before, you may well have been negative. Hard to know for sure without having done an IgG antibody test for HSV. The IgG test detects type-specific IgG antibodies to the virus, which usually take 3 months post-infection for certain results.

That is what your partner should test for in the absence of lesions. If he scores a high result, then it is not a new infection (at least more than 3 months). If you think you were only recently infected (within a month, for example), you can also do the IgG test and should score low, maybe even negative. Each person produces and maintains different levels of antibody, however, so the results cannot accurately determine recency of infection.

The IgM antibody test is not recommended, despite what the clinic may say.

Your info is really good I do appreciate it.

What is an igm test?

And the lower someone scores on an igg test, which is a blood test, means the more recent the virus came about? Can it detect within a certain amount of time? Like let's say maybe tell me I had it a month, and he had it for six, maybe? Something to that effect?

And I read up on it, but can you possibly explain to me exactly what shedding is?

And what do you when you said it usually takes three months post infection for certain results?? Do you mean it will take three months from now for the results? Or do you mean that him or me has to have it for at least three months to get that test?

Did you show any symptoms at all ?

Yes, about a week and a half ago I felt a burning sensation when I peed( but not in my vaginal area) and when in the shower and when water hit it etc. Even when I went #2. I would wipe and it hurt as well. I tried looking but it was in a weird place. When the doctor looked she said it kind of looked like a paper cut on my labia area, closer to the section between your anus and vagina. I took the pills she gave me, and used the gel she gave me to put on it. It went away, now it's gone. But I just got the results and from the swab on it, they are saying herpes type 2 and no.... no symptoms at all before

Well it doesn't sounds too bad I've heard some serious stories .. Any discharge at all ?

No none at all. No foul odor, no itching like some have said it could happen. I just got this "cut" open sore thing out of nowhere and then went to the doctors. I tested positive obv... and you see everything I wrote above right so

Well stay positive and remember it's nothing more than a skin disease.

Thank you, I appreciate the positive words. It really just hurts more than anything to know that I will have it for the rest of my life

Right but it's not fatal. Could've been worse, this is just a rough patch that's all. You seem to be handling it well.

I know, some people have hiv/aids so i know im not going to die unless its from something else in my life other than this. I go to a consultation tomorrow, im hoping i can get a second test done just to be sure, since i no longer have the actual sore anymore maybe they can do the blood test mentioned above. And take it from there. The medicine they first gave me was acyclovir... which is for herpes.and it worked without the full ten day dose i am all healed up down there, so everything seems like it makes sense you know

IgM is another type of antibody, but a temporary one related to new infections. For other illnesses it can be used to test for infection and recency. However, it is not reliable or type-specific for HSV, and because HSV recurs, it cannot be used to determine recency, because IgM occurs with both new and recurring infections. Many doctors don't realise this. So, always IgG, not IgM!

IgG can't establish how long you've had it, beyond what I said above. A positive swab with a negative IgG does however mean a new infection. Your body takes time to produce antibodies. For the IgG test, they recommend at least 3 months. Test results should come back within a couple of days to a week.

HSV sheds via lesions and the mucosal skin of the genitals (even without lesions). That means the virus is present and can be transmitted. HSV sheds at random without symptoms, and sometimes with symptoms (outbreak). This means it is hard to know when you are not infectious, since symptoms/lesions are not necessary.

OK, I get all of that now. So def the igg test I will make sure we both take just in case

I really do appreciate all of this info. And if you have anything else to offer it would be greatly appreciated. I'm just so anxious and worried and scared and glad this is a place I can go to ask questions and vent and not get judged

You're welcome! Yeah, I would do the IgG test. Whether it comes up positive or negative can be useful in determining status and who had it first, etc. Since you only recently had mild symptoms and tested positive by swab, I would recommend doing the IgG test soon. If negative, you have a new infection. If positive, you had it from before.

How would that test determine who had it first??

And "from before" and "recent" could mean like how long?? maybe possibly could it be

A positive swab but negative igg done around the same time means you have it but before your body could produce enough antibodies, which means it is probably within a month or two at most. If the igg is also positive, you had it at least three months ago or longer. If he is igg negative, then obviously he doesn't have it, or at least not yet (remember it can take three months to seroconvert). If he is positive, then he has had it for three months or longer.

Okay, well thank you for the time span at least.... we have been having sex for a while now so it would def be him that I got it from, and I haven't had sex with anyone at the same time as him or even in the past year, ESP unprotected

When I first had symptoms, I did both a swab and igg blood test around the same time. I had a positive swab and negative igg, so I knew that the guy I had been with was the one who gave it to me, not the other way around, which was good to know, as i didn't have to notify any previous partners. Also, it avoided him blaming me!

So if I have a positive swab, and a negative IgG, and he ends up having a positive IgG, what does that mean? That I gave it to him??

I hope not because I do not feel that is possible at all

That would mean he gave it to you.

OK, and if he has a neg IgG, could the mean it is not detectable yet?

Yes. Either he has it but not yet seroconverted, or he just doesn't have it. Could be either. A follow-up igg test 3 months after the negative result would serve to clarify (if precautions to avoid transmission are taken in the interim).

Thanks so much!!