Is it possible my PCR is incorrect?

Posted , 3 users are following.

1) I took a PCR test on Friday night.

2) The doctor told me Friday afternoon I had HSV.

3) I took 2 acyclovirs between clinical analysis and the test.

4) The worse day of my symptoms was Twelve days after exposure. The clinic appointment, the test, and the two acyclovirs were all taken on Day Fourteen

5) the doctor told me that the lesion was very apparent, even from a distance, but it was not as wet or completely fresh. 

My PCR Test result: TARGET NOT DETECTED

Question:

Was this chain of events enough to affect my PCR test?

or

Is my doctor incorrect? 

or

Other possibility or grey area?

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • Posted

    None of those things would affect a pcr test, although I don't understand the way your results are stated and interpreted by your doctor. To me your results would seem to indicate negative, surely?
    • Posted

      He thinks that maybe it would have affected it. He also says that after 5 days of medication, including vitamin c and multivitmans, that it got better. 

      There is only one area where the ulcer appeared, and that is on the side lip of my urethra. There was only one ulcer. It's healed apparently, but i can still feel the stinging/cut like pain from it. I honestly think I damagaed membrane from hot water, soap, and even seeing a dirt particle inside. he says that is possible, but there was still an ulcer there that is HSV. 

    • Posted

      Sorry for the double response. The result means there is no detectable DNA of the virus in my area. Which means the antiviral medication (two pills at the time) plus my body repressed the virus into a dormant state again. Is that even possible? 
    • Posted

      No, I think it means you are negative. The pcr test is very accurate and sensitive. If you had enough virus to cause a lesion, you had enough virus to be detected. Pcr swabs can even be done on healing lesions or in the absence of lesions (internal swabs). Far superior to viral culture swabs. Do the IgG test at 3 months for assurance.
    • Posted

      Sorry, my reply had a link in it. I was going to say that there are many scholarly articles that state the lesion area must be active. If the lesion is in the process of healing, then there may not be enough DNA to test, therefore resulting in a negative. 

      My doctor is 100% adamant I have HSV. He thinks the lesion is healed to the point where I can have sex again normally and not give anyone the disease. I'm on my 5th day of acyclovir out of 7. Do you have an opinion on this? I know you're not a doctor. The conversation just helps me mentally, so thank you for your response.

    • Posted

      Nope, my only opinions on the matter are as already stated, plus your exposure was pretty negligible, if I recall correctly. Not sure why your doctor seems so dead set on you having herpes. I would just relax but remain vigilant and do the IgG test at 3 months.
    • Posted

      This becomes an ethical question. So I ask if you could please indulge me and put yourself in my shoes as if this were a hypothetical situation (think ethics class lol). I see my girlfriend tonight. I will have completed 5 days of acyclovir treatment, with an already healed mild ulcer. She will demand unprotected oral and vaginal sex. I love this woman to death and the last two weeks have made me realized how much she and our relationship means. I will never do anything to jeopordize this relationship AGAIN. 

      Do you 1) Tell her you have a possible risk of HSV? or 2) Proceed like everything is normal?

       

    • Posted

      Tsk, forgot you have a gf, otherwise it would be simple! Well, since it still kind of stings and if you want to err on the side of caution, whatever it is, then I would not have sex until it stops stinging. I wouldn't want to have sex when something stings down there anyway.
    • Posted

      Yeah, I ruined everything pretty much. 

      I just masturbated for the first time in 7 days. The urethra part flared up for a little, especially in the shower. Went away after drying off. Shaft is achey, kinda feels swollen over that "line" (i'm circumsized). 

      I don't know how this helps us figure out what i have or not. All i know is that if I am to avoid sex, I will have to tell her what happened. It's a blue pill red pill kind of thing now. 

    • Posted

      Just tell her you're feeling under the weather. I wouldn't divulge more than necessary, since I don't even think you have it, plus worst case scenario it's Type 1, which isn't commonly spread via intercourse. However, I still wouldn't have sex while sore there, whether it's due to Type 1 or not.
    • Posted

      I know my girlfriend and I haven't seen her for two weeks. All she is going to want is sex. 

      Could I give her Type 1 from my penis into her mouth?

    • Posted

      I see. Could you please direct me to some scholarly or trustworthy articles online that talk about this? Meaning, contracting hsv from performing oral sex, not receiving. Can't seem to find anything else. 

      Also, in theory (or even actuality), if the DNA of the virus is not there, then I am must at least be passed the period when I can transmit HSV to someone, correct? 

    • Posted

      Also, the pain in my shaft is pretty much gone. The area where the ulcer was supposedly no longer flares up in pain. The PCR shows no DNA available. If there's no DNA and everything has stopped hurting, does that mean my symptoms are gone and my healing phase is over? Is this a period where I can transmit the disease or has it gone dormant for now?
  • Posted

    Apologies, but I must correct something! I re-read your original post just now and realised it was two weeks when you had the pcr test done. Yes, that is late, even for pcr, so the results could be impacted. Not sure how I missed that earlier. :s

    It is hard to study transmission for ethical reasons. The few studies done have involved existing discordant couples (which may bias results), where one partner has genital Type 2. Genital Type 1 transmission seems rarely studied, if at all.

    Assuming the worst -- that despite almost negligible circumstances, you managed to acquire presumably genital Type 1 -- it is hard to say what is safe now or not. On the one hand, Type 1 is not typically transmitted via intercourse. On the other hand, new infections are more infectious and shed more (certainly the case for Type 2), and you have only just recovered. Personally, I'd err on the side of caution.

    • Posted

      That's a shame then. I feel let down by my doctor.

      The entire first week I thought I had nothing because he said it was an abrasion. Then the second week, it's suddenly an ulcer that is healing. I'm not even in the denial stage anymore. I just feel angry now. 

      The logic I typed above is what my doctor told me today: "Based on the fact that the ulcer was healing already whe I first saw it, it looks healed now, your PCR coming up negative, and you're on five days of acyclovir while still on antiviral drugs, I say it is safe for you to have sex again"

      I don't know what to do anymore. I feel defeated and the worst part is I feel like I can't bounce back from this. I've ruined the most perfect relationship of my life. I see my girlfriend in five hours. I don't know what I'm going to do. Tell her. Not to tell her. I don't know anymore... 

    • Posted

      That is true no virus was detected, which is good, but whether it sheds again (especially since it's new), I don't know. BUT that is assuming it's even herpes! I'm still not sure that it is, since you only received a hand job with a bit of spit, which is a risk, but less so than direct oral. I would still just avoid sex for a couple more days as buffer and until the stinging goes away. During that time and for the duration of your gf's visit, you can continue the meds daily as an extra precaution when you do end up having sex.
    • Posted

      I just told her and didn't risk it. She kicked me out and that's the end of that. I don't know what's going to happen from here on in. I just need to find God and myself again.

      I'm going to finish my medication and wait for my igG next Tuesday. If those are negative, I will retest again in about 2 1/2 months. 

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