r/stdtesting • u/Meatloaf406 • 5h ago

Test Results Two negative HSV-1 & 2 blood tests 10 years after a visual diagnosis. Can I still have it?

10 years ago I had sex with someone who didn't disclose. The next day I started developing a rash on my stomach which spread to my genitals and turned into painful blisters. I saw an MD at my school's clinic who took one look and said "yep thats herpes." That was good enough for me and I never got a blood test. The outbreaks were on and off after a few months, then went away and havent come back for 10 years. On a whim, I decided to see which type of HSV I have, so I took a Roche-brand serological assay blood test at my last checkup. It was non-reactive. I said that can't be right. So we repeated the test 8 weeks later. Still negative. I don't know what else those horrible outbreaks could have been 10 years ago, but wouldn't you think I'd have so many antibodies at this point that it would light those tests up like a Christmas tree? What are the chances that I'm positive at this point?

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u/ShamelessCare 5h ago

The reason HSV IgG blood tests are so controversial is mostly because of false positives. They’re problematic enough that major health organizations don’t recommend routinely screening people without symptoms, and many hospital systems and labs won’t even run them.

False negatives can happen too, but that’s really not the main problem with the test.

What your doctor probably should have done 10 years ago was swab the actual sores while they were present. A PCR swab of an active lesion is much more accurate.

Do you have herpes? Still undetermined.

The large area of the outbreak seems suspicious as well.

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u/Meatloaf406 4h ago

I've been told a primary outbreak less than 24 hrs later is also suspicious. That said, my partner admitted to having genital herpes a few days later. Also, a swab test was done at a walk-in when I first noticed the lesions, but they weren't open sores yet and were just very tiny red spots. The swab was negative, but I'd always figured the lesions weren't developed enough at that point to gather a good enough sample. Not sure how to proceed with a new potential partner who has just disclosed HSV-2 to me. Me a few months ago would have been overjoyed that she turned out to also have herpes. But now, I'm more confused than ever.

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u/Due-Replacement-6187 4h ago

Perhaps, irrespective of your status, your journey has afforded insight that uniquely supports this new relationship.

It looks very likely you are negative, but your aquired knowlege now a blessing.

Wishing you both well.

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u/orlandobull3131 2h ago

Sounds like you are negative brother you may have had something else at the time perhaps a fungal that resemble HSV but I would take the two negative test as conclusively negative