What Happens During A Herpes Antibody Test
There are different tests for HSV. Doctors will choose a test based on a persons health history and symptoms. Options include the following:
- Swab test: A healthcare professional uses a swab to take a sample of fluid and cells from a herpes sore. They then order a PCR test or viral culture to determine whether HSV is present. This is the most reliable way to test for HSV. Doctors normally do this as standard procedure before ordering any other sort of test.
- Blood test: A healthcare professional uses a needle to take a small amount of blood from a vein in a persons arm.
- Lumbar puncture: Doctors may use this method if they suspect a person has an infection in the brain or spinal cord. It involves numbing the skin of the lower spine and inserting a thin, hollow needle between two vertebrae to collect cerebrospinal fluid.
A doctor will send samples to a laboratory for testing and a person should get their results within a few days.
Should The Clinician Order Herpes Serology
Serology is not appropriate in this case. This occurrence is suspicious for a primary outbreak in someone previously uninfected, and if so, antibodies are not going to be present. It takes 3 weeks to several months after exposure to the herpes virus for antibodies to be detectable in the blood.7
It is important, however, to remember that first clinical presentations can occur long after the primary infection.8 The clinician should not assume that what appears to be a primary outbreak indicates the patient has been recently infected or counsel the patient that they must have been infected by their current partner. There is no way to determine when the patient was initially exposed.
Clinicians may be tempted to test for herpes immunoglobulin M in an effort to determine if this is a new infection. In the case of HSV, however, IgM is not exclusively produced with initial infections. It can reappear with recurrences years after initial infection. The presence of herpes IgM cannot help differentiate between initial and established infections.7
Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results
The following questions may be useful as patients review genital and oral herpes test results with their doctor:
- What type of test was conducted?
- What is my test result?
- What is the most likely explanation for my test result?
- Are there any follow-up tests that you recommend?
- How should I discuss my test result with sexual partners?
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Can Herpes Simplex Virus Cause Serious Infections
Yes. The most serious, or life-threatening, HSV infections can occur in newborns who are infected during birth and in individuals with weakened immune systems , such as organ transplant recipients and people with HIV/AIDS. Neonatal herpes is a serious condition, but also very rare. While 25-30% of pregnant women have genital herpes, less than 0.1% of babies born in the U.S. each year get neonatal herpes. This means that most women with genital herpes give birth to healthy babies.
HSV lesions tend to be more extensive and persist longer in newborns and immunocompromised people than in individuals who have healthy immune systems.
Herpes False Positives: The Accuracy Of Herpes Tests
Worried you have been handed a herpes false positive? Is there a small chance of being handed a false positive herpes test result or are these supposedly fail-safe tests always accurate? If recent test results confirm you are carrying the herpes simplex virus, you may need to be reassured that the current herpes blood tests are reliable.
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Developing A Risk Score For Each Study
We used standard univariate statistical tests to identify sociodemographic, behavioural, and clinical factors significantly associated with antibody to HSV-2. Forwards stepwise selection was then used to select the best of these factors to form a logistic regression model for HSV-2. The log odds ratios of the factors in the model are taken to indicate their importance, so that an additive scoring system results. The value of one unit of risk on the log odds scale was then selected so that as many factors as possible were close to a whole number of units and no factor represented more than five units. Each factor was then assigned a number of risk units, equal to the log odds ratio divided by the unit value, rounded to the nearest whole number. The overall risk score is then the sum of these terms.
For example, in study 4, one unit of risk was chosen to be 0.65 on the log odds scale. For number of lifetime sexual partners, relative to 02 the log odds ratios for 34, 59, and 10+ were 1.43, 2.10, and 2.80 respectively. Dividing by 0.65 and rounding, we see that 34, 59, or 10+ partners represent 2, 3, or 4 units of risk respectively.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know
Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection. The skin lesions give other sexually transmitted diseases , including HIV, openings for entering the body. Likewise, it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious. Infection with HSV can also increase HIV viral load. HSV-2 infection is a significant opportunistic infection in HIV-infected individuals due to immune system deficiencies up to 90% of HIV-infected individuals are co-infected with HSV-2.
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How The Full Harvest Moon In Pisces Will Impact You Astrologically
All of this tells us that sure, there are some currently available blood tests for herpes that can tell you your status or give you some idea of it but they’re still far from perfect. And when we’re dealing with a illness that’s highly and widely stigmatized the way herpes has become, most people are looking for airtight answers. This is precisely why so many doctors, as well as the CDC, do not recommend getting tested unless you have the common symptoms associated with herpes, such as itching, burning, or a blister.
Herpes False Positive Test Results
There are many tests that can diagnose herpes, but some are more accurate than others. It is in fact possible to get a herpes false positive.
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Which test is best? First lets take a closer look at some of the tests and the overall effectiveness of each.
The Western Blot Test for Genital Herpes
This test is considered to be one of the most effective ways of diagnosing genital herpes, and it is thought that the test has great accuracy results. However, cost, time and availability are a major issue and this may make people turn to other types of herpes screening programs. Never the less, many physicians are willing to refer patients for a Western Blot test if they suspect an outbreak of genital herpes.
The HerpeSelect Test
This test comprises of two parts. Patients undergo the herpes immunoblot test and the genital herpes Elisa IgG test. The blood samples are analyzed at a laboratory, hence, the patient may have to wait for the test results. Both tests offer highly accurate results and as a rule, they will detect both variations of the herpes simplex virus . Recent studies show that herpes false positive results are unlikely when this type of test is used.
The SureVue HSV-2 Test
The PCR Blood Test
The Tzanck Smear
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Are There Other Types Of Herpes Viruses Besides Hsv
Yes. There are over 25 viruses in the herpes family and at least 8 types that infect humans. These include herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 discussed in this article as well as varicella zoster virus , associated with chickenpox and shingles, Epstein Barr virus , which can cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus , human herpes virus 6 and human herpes virus 7 , both associated with roseola in young children, and human herpes virus 8 , which has been found in tumors in people with Kaposis sarcoma . KS primarily affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS and organ transplant recipients.
I Tested Positive For Herpes What Should I Do Now
For most people, having herpes does not affect their health or quality of life. To prevent passing on cold sores and genital herpes to others, a person can:
- avoid kissing others when the virus is active
- use condoms when having sex
- avoid skin-to-skin contact during an active outbreak
- avoid sharing towels, toothbrushes, and lipstick when they have sores around the mouth
- wash their hands well after touching a sore
Having multiple sexual partners can increase the risk of
transmitting STIs such as herpes. People can decrease this risk by openly discussing STI status and prevention with any partners and practicing safe sex.
It is
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Doctors Don’t Advise Getting A Blood Test For Herpes Without Any Symptoms
Hilda Hutcherson, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, is one of those doctors. “I usually dont do tests for herpes someone has a lesion or a sore, something I can see, I will do a swab and take it to a culture or check the DNA on the materials I removed,” she says. “If theres nothing there and I do a blood test and the blood test comes back positive, lets say its positive for type 1, what does that really mean? Most people are positive for type 1.” She adds that someone could be HSV-1-positive and either have or not have genital herpes. The result “doesnt mean much, and it makes people go crazy.”
Hutcherson’s motto is pretty simple: Why stress yourself over something if you haven’t seen anything especially when it’s something as common as herpes? “Let’s say they have a blood test come in positive but theyve never had a lesion. Now what? You may never get a lesion,” she says. It’s for this reason that she recommends people do not get tested for herpes unless they have a visible lesion that can be cultured and sent to a lab. Let’s say you get tested anyway and it comes back positive, despite the fact that you have no symptoms. What do you do?
What Is The Purpose Of A Herpes Igm Test
The herpes IgM test is a simple blood test and results are usually available within a week.
Keep in mind that:
- This test may be done to confirm that a person has herpes after they’ve had a recent outbreak.
- Herpes IgM is one of the first types of antibody that appears after infection, so this blood test is the earliest one that can be used to detect herpes.
- The herpes IgM antibodies can take up to 10 days to develop after a primary infection with the virus.
If you believe you have been exposed but have no symptoms, you should wait at least two weeks before getting tested. You may want to wait even longer depending on which tests are available in your area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend HSV IgM testing because it may give a positive result during a recurrent oral or genital herpes episode. Instead, they recommend specific testing to determine which HSV you may have.
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Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About An Hsv Test
The best way to prevent genital herpes or another STD is to not have sex. If you are sexually active, you can reduce your risk of infection by
- Being in a long-term relationship with one partner who has tested negative for STDs
- Using condoms correctly every time you have sex
If you’ve been diagnosed with genital herpes, condom use can reduce your risk of spreading the infection to others.
Getting Help With Confirmatory Testing
I’ve found that an important part of mental health for patients with herpes is to feel a sense of understanding and agency around their diagnosis and test results and to learn information that can help them make a decision about whether they want to pursue confirmatory testing or not. I often refer patients with low positive results to consult with a medical expert if they have additional questions. The healthcare provider I trust the most with these types of questions is Terri Warren, NP, who has been an excellent resource for many of my patients. There may be other healthcare providers who can navigate appropriate confirmatory testing, but many providers have not learned how to do this. If you are questioning your diagnosis and want to learn more about confirmatory testing, you can do so here. If you need help coping with the diagnosis or with awaiting results, therapy or a support group can often help.
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How Test Accuracy Is Measure
The accuracy of all medical tests, including herpes tests, is measured based on two values: sensitivity and specificity.
Sensitivityis how often a test correctly identifies someone with a disease. A test that is 90% sensitive will correctly identify 90 people out of 100 who have the disease. Ten people will have a false-negative result.
Specificity, on the other hand, refers to a test’s ability to correctly identify someone who doesn’t have the disease. If a test is 90% specific, that means that 90 people out of 100 will be correctly diagnosed as not having a disease and that 10 people will have a false-positive result.
The higher the sensitivity and specificity, the lower the chances of a false result.
If You Get A Positive Result Dont Panic It Really Doesnt Mean Much
All of this is to say that unless you have symptoms consistent with the herpes virus, why put yourself through the emotional turmoil of getting a blood test that may or may not give you legit results? As Hutcherson notes, if you do get a blood test and it comes back positive but youâre asymptomatic, what does that mean for you if you have nothing to treat? For many, due to the high rate of stigma still surrounding herpes, it can mean feelings of self-contempt, humiliation, and distress, all of which could be avoided if you arenât experiencing any symptoms.
To recap, while there are some tests for herpes that can prove correct, none are 100 percent perfect, and blood tests are particularly problematic since they can produce false positives and negatives. We also know that the majority of the population has some form of herpes, so IMO itâs a mystery as to why weâre still making a big deal out of it. No one likes blisters or sores, but neither does anyone love having acne, a widespread condition without the same level of attached shame.
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Case 1 Primary Genital Hsv Infection
MN is a 23-year-old college student . She presents to the student health center with a complaint of painful urination for the past 2 days. She describes the pain as worst when the urine touches her skin: It is getting so bad, it hurts to walk. MN is afebrile and has no back pain, nausea, or vomiting. Her urinalysis is normal.
On examination, the clinician notes multiple tender, shallow ulcerations on the labia bilaterally and confluent tender vesicles on the posterior vestibule. There is an enlarged, tender left inguinal lymph node. MN is unable to tolerate a speculum or bimanual exam due to the painful lesions. The clinician suspects a genital herpes infection.
A direct test using a sample from a lesion is needed for this patient. With any of the direct test types, it is important to consider the stage of a lesion. The viral load of any given lesion decreases with time.6,7 If a lesion is dry or crusted over, it is more likely to test negative, even if it is a true herpes infection.7 In the case of MN, several lesions are moist and open, so it is likely the viral load will be adequate.
An older test type, the Tzanck preparation , is insensitive and nonspecific and is not recommended.2 Similarly, the direct immunofluorescence assay using fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies that detect HSV antigen lacks sensitivity and is not recommended.2
How Does The Herpes Antibodies Test Work
A herpes antibodies test works by looking in your blood for HSV-1 antibodies or HSV-2 antibodies â typically the IgG type but sometimes the IgM type.
These tests only indicate exposure to either HSV-1 or HSV-2 at some point in your past. This does not necessarily mean that HSV is causing any current symptoms that you may have â since the exposure could have been years ago.
If you are worried about a new infection, it might be useful to take the test again around 21 days later to make sure that your body has had enough time to produce the antibodies.
The tests can give false-positive results. You may want to repeat the test or try other forms of testing to confirm the results.
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What Can I Do About Genital Herpes
So heres the good news: herpes is rarely a serious health issue. Although there can be a negative stigma associated with those who have an outbreak and the blistering sores may change sexual habits, a majority of those infected have no symptoms at all.
If you do request a herpes blood test, ask if your doctor is going to be performing a type-specific test. These blood tests tend to be more reliable.
Should the blood test come back as positive, how your treatment plan develops will depend on other health conditions that may be affecting you. Suppressive therapies and other medication may be ordered, but in some patients, careful watching and waiting may be the best solution. If suppressive therapies are ordered, this will mean taking a drug every day that youll have to pay for.
Genital herpes can be detected with a herpes blood test. If no symptoms are being experienced, your doctor may wish to hold off on testing to avoid a false positive. And, if youre concerned about your sexual health for any reason, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.