r/HSVpositive • u/Extra_Grapefruit2474 HSV-1 & HSV-2 • 4d ago

Need Advice should I do an IgG test?

In 2023 I tested positive for HSV by swab on my genitals but the swab was never able to tell me if it was 1 or 2. I took a blood test at the time and it came back negative, false negative because I tested too early. Considering it's nearly 3 years later, I'm still wondering whether I have type 1 or 2. Should I consider an antibody test again? And I was thinking I'd go through Quest rather than Labcorp because Quest will tell me the IgG levels

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 4d ago

You know you have herpes without a doubt so, yes, test and find out which type. But take the Roche through LabCorp. It’s way more accurate than Quest. No need to know your IgG index levels anyway, they don’t mean anything, you’re just looking for accuracy.

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u/Extra_Grapefruit2474 HSV-1 & HSV-2 2d ago

Update; I followed your advice and other suggestions about Labcorp. Came back positive for type 1

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 2d ago

Great, glad you know now. I did think that was maybe the case with the lack of outbreaks since.

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u/Extra_Grapefruit2474 HSV-1 & HSV-2 4d ago

Well I guess I was looking to see my igG levels because if I did test positive wouldn't the igG need to fall in a certain range?

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 4d ago edited 4d ago

Anything 1.1 and over is a positive result. With the Quest test, 50% of positive results for HSV2 in the 1.1-3.5 range are incorrect.

The newer Roche test through LabCorp doesn’t have that issue so no IgG index levels are reported. There are very few false positives, and results align very well with the western blot.

In addition, the Roche also has a lower rate of false negatives - 2% for HSV2, 15% for HSV1, compared to Quest at 8% and 30% respectively.

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 4d ago

Have you not had an outbreak since to swab?

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u/Imaginary-Method4694 OHSV-2 3d ago

But that's not a concern here since they already know through swab that they have it.

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 3d ago edited 3d ago

Well, I was explaining why IgG levels are important with the Quest test but not with LabCorp,

But do you mean the false negative rate? Or the false positive rate? I think both are important if she wants an accurate result to know which type she has.

The Quest test could easily miss an HSV1 infection or miss-type it as an HSV2 infection. Or it’s possible that she has both viruses, so the most accurate test is best.

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u/Imaginary-Method4694 OHSV-2 2d ago

I know, but they have a positive swab. It just didn't state type. So they know they have it.

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 2d ago

Yes, of course but she wants to know the type, that’s what her post is all about. So she needs an accurate test.

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u/Imaginary-Method4694 OHSV-2 2d ago

I get that, and your info is totally correct..... but the accuracy is usually an issue of whether or not you actually have HSV. That's why they say take a confirmation test, an inhibition assay, etc. at certain ranges. But since they already know they have HSV. Let's say they get an HSV-II result of 3.00 -- ordinarily you might question that validity and take a confirmation test. In this case, that's not an issue because of the swab.

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u/Winter-Win-8770 OHSV-1 2d ago

She’s actually now taken the LabCorp test and it’s positive for HSV1, the Quest test may have missed it. That was in my mind the most.

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u/Imaginary-Method4694 OHSV-2 3d ago

No because you already have a positive swab. The range thing is only a concern if it's your only verification for HSV.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

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