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Why would someone test postive and years later negative?

Posted , 4 users are following.

madison1989
madison1989

I recently had an STD check done and requested antibody test for HSV and results were negative for both 1 and 2. 

This is very strange because in 1997 I had HSV1 confirmed through swab test on sores.   I never had another outbreak.....just the initial one which was bad....must have been 20 of them scattered. I requested records from the clinic where I had the culture done in '97 to be sent to the doctor I see now.  It doesn't really matter except I wondered if that means I can catch that HSV again?  My husband has  HSV1 orally. I am married but am having an affair with a man I dated through high school.  Hence the STD check.  I want to know about HSV as I don't want to "re-catch" from hubby's mouth and then possibly pass on.  We never took precaution as I had already had caught HSV1 from him and (at time in '97) doctor said since I had it too that we don't have to worry about passing to one another. 

Thanks for any help.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus madison1989

    Posted

    The IgG test for HSV-1 is less accurate and misses 25% of infections (HSV-2 IgG test only misses 2%). That could be the reason. In any case, once infected with herpes, it is for life, whether it shows up in the test or not, so you cannot "re-catch" it.
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus

      Posted

      P.S. If you acquired Type 1 back in 1997, then you are not very infectious. Type 1 is far less infectious anyway, plus you've had it for almost 20 years, which makes you even less infectious. Your other partner may also have had cold sores previously, in which case he should be immune, though sometimes exceptions exist.
    • madison1989
      madison1989 FelizCastus

      Posted

      Thank you for your response.  After records from old clinic were recieved by new dr, he  said same thing as you.  You know your facts!  Thanks again.

       

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