Obviously you probably realize today that a person can have HSV-1, HSV-2,
both, OR nothing at all, right?

Was it a type specific antibody test kind of like the ones listed here:
http://yoshi2me.com/genital-herpes.html

It's more common to get a false negative depending on the type of blood test
that you had done. No, you don't normally go from being positive to being
negative. Once you contract herpes, you keep herpes.

A false positive is not likely...

I would suspect that could very well be the case. And since you didn't
really ever have any outbreaks that you could see or feel.. it's almost safe
to assume that it's probably oral herpes type-1.

Have you checked out the Herpes Help site yet?
http://yoshi2me.com/index.html

Hope this helps,

Angela :-)

Dear Dunes,

Back in March of this year, I tested positive through a blood test for
HSV-2.  At the time, I was a member on another herpes website and a
very nice nurse, ex-moderator, there advised me to get retested since
my number was low and I had a long-standing history of HSV-1 orally.
Right before taking the HSV-2 test in March, I had had a large outbreak
(two lesions on my lip, instead of the usual one).  So I retested in
late May, and the test came back equivocal (which means you may or may
not have the virus).  Then in early July I tested a third time and the
results for type-2 came back as negative.

Had that very kind woman, not asked to see my numbers and then suggest
further testing to me...I'd have gone to this day thinking I have
type-2 and type 1, instead of just having type-1.  Not that either is a
better or worse one to have socially....I don't discriminate between
the two...they're both Herpes.  But as far as other situations in my
life...it is much better that I know the truth as to what I have.

A couple of things I noticed in your e-mail (and I'm no expert...but I
thought I'd mention it)...Genital Herpes can be either type-1 or type
2...as can oral be either type.  So just saying you have genital herpes
isn't specifically telling you which type you have.

They definitely can tell you which type you have based on a blood test.
Ask for a Herpes Select Type 1 & II test.  The only thing that can't
be told from the blood test (at this date) is when you got it.

Hope this helps.  Like I said, I'm not the expert here...but I am one
that was misdiagnosed.  I just received the paperwork in on all of my
tests and I plan to set an appt. with my gynecologist's office to
discuss this with them.  Health care professionals need to know how
having type-1 can affect the outcome of type-2 testing...and they
don't.

And not to get on a soapbox here...but I wanted to share something
positive that has come out of all my HSV drama...lol.  When I learned
all about Herpes back in March (and trust me...I knew little to that
point), I made it my mission to talk to anyone and everyone about HSV.
I have a 17 y/o daugher and a son that is almost 14.  I've have spoken
to both of them about herpes, how you get it, that condoms don't
protect against it, how you can have it and not know it, etc.  I won't
let my kids grow up ignorant about H like I was.  I treat it as matter
of fact...telling them that just because someone has H (either type)
it's no reflection on them as a person, they're behavior, etc.  I don't
want stigma attached to this disease anymore!  Enough!

Best of luck to you.  And Yoshi...if you talk to Betsy....please tell
her I'm eternally grateful!

Michelle

Hi Dune,

It can be confusing, that's for sure.

Fist, the doctor was wrong to tell you that type 1 and 2 could not be
distinguished through a blood test or even a culture.  There were older
blood tests that could distinguish between the two, but they sometimes got
them mixed up.  Though, in the last few years, that really hasn't been a
problem, as far as I know.

What made you believe you had genital herpes?  Did you ever have symptoms at
all?  Why did you have a test run in the first place?

Cold sores are herpes, so of course you would test positive for herpes.  The
majority of cold sores are caused by herpes type 1.  It is possible to have
oral herpes type 2, but it seems to be rather rare.

It is also possible to have herpes type 1 genitally.  It's become quite
common, actually.  Either way, whether it is genital or oral, it is still
type 1.

There are no false positives.

If your ex had cold sores, then what was he complaining about?   Did he have
cold sores before you got together?  Or, are you saying he had genital
outbreaks of herpes?  I don't have a time-line so I'm not sure what you are
asking clarification for.

It is possible to pass oral herpes to someone's genitals through oral sex.
It is also possible to pass genital type 1 to someone's mouth through oral
sex.

ar

Wide spread type-specific testing is relatively new.

You don't test positive and then negative unless they misinterpreted
your test. In your case, it sounds like they never actually typed the
virus until recently.

If he put you through hell over oral herpes, I'm glad he's your ex! :-)
You have oral HSV-1 which is the cause of the coldsores you said you
have had.

Me, you, and the other 60-90% of people with HSV-1 orally are majority
and the more "normal" ones.