Misdiagnosis, really?

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rll716 - 08 Jan 2005 18:31 GMT

I was clinically diagnosed with HSV2 last month. The culture taken in the
doctor's office came back negative. (I understand that is not highly
unusual.) The doctor was confident in the diagnosis and declined my
request for a blood test.

After reading more and more (via VERY HELPFUL AND COMFORTING Web sites and
books), I called back and re-requested the blood test. I got it and the
test results showed NO HSV antibodies (either types)in my blood. HUH?

I asked if there could be a mistake? "No." Well, of course now I'm super
cautious because of the inital "misdiagnosis." So what was it? They are
speculating shingles. ?? I am calling my OB/GYN for a second opinion (I
was seeing my family doctor because my OB was not vaginally, but near the
rectum.)

What is the percentage that this was REALLY a misdiagnosis? Further
thoughts?

~R

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M2slo2cht@nospam.invalid - 08 Jan 2005 19:00 GMT

>What is the percentage that this was REALLY a misdiagnosis? Further
>thoughts?

Couple of things.
First, your doc may know herpes when he sees it but there is no way to
distinguish type (hsv2 vs hsv1) by just looking at an outbreak. So if
he remains convinced that it's type 2, I'd be a little skeptical of
him. On the other hand, at least he knows that a culture has a high
false negative rate (some docs don't even know that).
But if the blood test is one of the modern more accurate ones, I'd be
convinced by that. They're not often wrong.
Sooo.... I dunno. There are so many other things that can look like
herpes.... poison ivy.... fungal infection... I'd ask the doc what he
thinks now that he has the blood test results. If he's still convinced
his original diagnosis is right.... I'd check further into what kind
of blood test it was.

M2

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Bill Davis - 08 Jan 2005 19:56 GMT

>I was clinically diagnosed with HSV2 last month.

If you were recently infected, there may not be enough antibodies
present for an accurate blood test. I've always understood one should
wait 12-16 weeks after initial infection to ensure accurate blood test
results. But hey, I'm no expert ...., just my own personal 25+ year
experiment with the virus :o).

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M2slo2cht@nospam.invalid - 08 Jan 2005 21:43 GMT

>If you were recently infected, there may not be enough antibodies
>present for an accurate blood test. I've always understood one should
>wait 12-16 weeks after initial infection

Excellent point and nice catch Bill.
~R, if you might have been infected shortly before your clinical
diagnosis, give it a couple of months and then retry the blood test.

M2

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