Tested Positive for HSV 2, is it safe to say I have herpes?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi, I have received a positive IGG test for HSV. Does this mean I have herpes? or just that I have been exposed? I find so many contradicting articles on Google. Any answers would be extremely appreciated!!

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Posted

    The index numbers were:

    HSV1: 0.171

    HSV2: 1.33

  • Posted

    Please can someone respond? 😦

  • Edited

    hi lovely, where did you get the test? did they not discuss this with you when you were provided your results? if they have told you have a positive result for herpes then you are carrying the virus in your system xx

    • Posted

      Hi, they told me that is was a weak positive so it could be a false positive so I just wanted to see if anyone else had this 😦 because it was just over the positive cut off I just had a bit of hope xx

    • Posted

      did you have any symptoms? if youve never had any lesions or sores then to be honest i wouldn't worry too much. 1 in 4 people carry the HSV virus and most don't even know they have it xx

    • Posted

      I had one sore that disappeared in 2 days and was told it looked like folliculitis and potential lichen sclerosus. I haven't had any lesions since just the nerve pain. I think I'm just in denial but I'm coming to terms with it 😦 If I don't have ulcerative outbreaks does it mean I'm less infectious?xx

    • Edited

      thats really good news! i think 80% of the time the virus is passed when you have the lesions, there are some stories of people transmitting it when they didnt have symptoms but its hard to prove. some people can have the virus in their system for several years and then a bad bout of the flu or a lot of stress can trigger an outbreak of lesions. even if you do have hsv i promise it wont effect your life in the way you may think. i was devastated when i found out but apart from a painful 7-10 days every 6 months my life hasnt been effected in the slightest xx

    • Posted

      Thank you for this you've been so helpful! I'm just going to see how my body deals with it in the first year and then see whether I need medication but I'm hoping as mine are so mild my body's going to cope well with it and not have many outbreaks. Just out of interest, which strain do you have?xx

    • Posted

      aww youre welcome! yes thats a good idea, some people who have really frequent nasty outbreaks take anti virals daily to suppress them but i get the feeling you may be fine! i've got hsv 1 - i caught it from oral sex when my partner had a cold sore x

  • Posted

    i just wanted to say that your igg values are pretty low... do some research on it, you might not even have herpes unless you have symptoms.. within the low positive range 1.1-3.5 theres a 50/50 chance of the results being wrong.

    • Posted

      Thanks, I'm going to retest in 6 months. I thought it may be low due to a new infection. I have had symptoms but the nurse wasn't convinced but I'm also a hypochondriac so think every symptom is down to herpes

    • Posted

      have you ever heard of the western blot test? did they not do swabs of the symptoms? they should have because persoanlly, im no doctor but what you have does not look like herpes. i just dont want you to believe that you have something that might not!!! im going through something similar but i dont have any symptoms.

    • Posted

      Yes I have, I'm in the UK though so I don't think it's available to me unfortunately 😦 I did have one sore that resembled herpes but I just don't want to believe I have it. If you've tested positive but don't have symptoms they say not to worry but it's easier said than done! Do you know what your index numbers were?

    • Posted

      yeah my index number was 1.92, but they did supplemental testing on top of that which also uses igg and it came back negative... so they are basically telling me it was a false positive. still has me sketched tho so im going to do the western blot just to be sure...

    • Posted

      ive done so much research and honestly the blood tests for herpes is so inaccurate. someone on a forum said they tested positive with like a 8.0 igg and the western blot came back negative. im pretty sure you can still have the western blot done in the uk if you can find someone to draw and spin your blood then you just have to ship it to the university of washington. i wish you the best, even if you do have it, its basically just a skin rash that society has created a huge stigma about.. i relate to you thats why i have to comment. wish you luck, you can always message me if you need anything!!

    • Posted

      This is really useful, thanks! I'll look into it, having such a low positive gives me hope! I just wouldn't wanna disclose something that I don't actually have, I have trouble dating as it is haha!I really appreciate it, thank you!x

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