Can you test positive for HSV-2 and not have it?

Also, false positive test results (test results that say you have herpes when you do not actually have the virus) are possible. Even if you do not have symptoms, you should talk openly and honestly about your sexual history with your doctor to find out if you should be tested for any STDs, including herpes.

What does HSV-1 negative mean?

A negative (normal) test most often means you have not been infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2. If the infection occurred very recently (within a few weeks to 3 months), the test may be negative, but you may still be infected.

Can HSV-2 antibodies go away?

For herpes, IgG and IgM antibodies show up around the same time — normally, IgM antibodies appear first. IgM antibodies may only last a few months and may not be made after the first outbreak — but IgG antibodies last indefinitely and are made during all outbreaks.

Can you test positive for HSV-1 then negative?

For one person, it could take just a few weeks, while it could take a few months for another. So even with the accurate tests, a person could receive a false negative if the test is taken too soon after contracting the virus.

Can HSV-2 IgG be wrong?

The commercially available herpes IgG test has up to a 38% probability of false-negative results. Usually, it’s because not enough time has passed after exposure (at least three weeks; ideally, three months).

What does a low positive HSV-2 mean?

Per CDC guidelines, specimens with equivocal or low positive results for HSV-2 type specific IgG will reflex for supplemental testing by another assay. In a patient with no history of lesion disease, a positive result for this test may be indicative that the primary infection was asymptomatic.

How common is a false positive HSV-2 test?

Meanwhile, the CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force concur that the most widely available herpes test, called HerpeSelect, should not be used to screen asymptomatic people because of its high risk of false positives: Up to 1 in 2 positive tests could be false, according to the USPSTF’s most recent guidelines.

How accurate is HSV-2 blood test?

Type-specific glycoprotein G-based serologic tests are designed to detect whether there are any antibodies to the herpes virus in the blood. Blood tests have a sensitivity of about 80-98% for HSV-2.

How common are false positive HSV-2?

How likely is it to spread HSV-2 without an outbreak?

But it is still possible to spread the infection even when no ulcers are present. One study examined rates of genital herpes transmission in heterosexual couples when only one partner was initially infected [1]. Over one year, the virus was transmitted to the other partner in 10 percent of couples.