What is a high index for HSV-1?
Fuchs, personal communication), in our sexually transmitted disease clinic, results are categorized by index value: scores of 1.1–3.5 are considered to be low positive and scores >3.5 are considered to be high positive.
What is the normal range for HSV-1?
| Component | Reference Interval |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and/or 2 Antibodies, IgG | Less than 0.80: Negative |
| 0.80 – 0.99: Equivocal-Repeat in 10-14 days may be helpful. | |
| Greater than 0.99: Positive – May indicate a current or previous HSV infection. | |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and/or 2 Antibodies, IgM | Less than 0.90: Negative |
What is a low positive for HSV-1?
An index value above 1.1 is considered positive, but some experts regard values less than 3.5 as “low positive” and recommend a confirmatory test such as the HSV Western Blot, long considered the gold standard with regards to accuracy and consistency of results.
What is a low positive for HSV-2?
If HSV-2 IgG type specific antibodies patient results fall between 0.91 (equivocal) and 5.00 (low positive) index values, the specimen will reflex to HSV-2 supplemental test per CDC guidelines.
What does a high HSV-2 result mean?
Positive/Abnormal. It may mean you have an active infection (you currently have sores), or were infected in the past (you have no sores). If you tested positive for HSV, talk to your health care provider. While there is no cure for herpes, it hardly ever causes serious health problems.
Can HSV-2 antibodies go away?
It may take between six and eight weeks to detect antibodies in a herpes blood test after first becoming infected with HSV. Also, antibodies may disappear with time, especially if the person has infrequent recurrences of herpes.
Does HSV-1 Go Away?
There is no cure for HSV1, but treatments are available that can shorten the length of an outbreak and make cold sores less painful. To reduce the risk of an outbreak, always apply sunscreen and lip balm when outdoors, and avoid stress and other illnesses as much as possible.
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.
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.
Does everyone have HSV-2 antibodies?
About 70% of adults have been infected by HSV-1 and have antibodies against the virus. About 20 to 50% of adults will have antibodies against the HSV-2 virus, which causes genital herpes.
Can you test positive for HSV-2 without an outbreak?
CDC does not recommend herpes testing for people without symptoms. This is because diagnosing genital herpes in someone without symptoms has not shown any change in their sexual behavior (e.g., wearing a condom or not having sex) nor has it stopped the virus from spreading.