Herpes blood tests have a sensitivity level of about 80-98%. This type of test detects antibodies to the herpes virus, so it may not be as accurate when performed soon after infection. In general, false positives are a concern with herpes testing, so it’s not recommended unless you have symptoms or have a high risk for infection. Show Blood Test BasicsHerpes blood tests, also known as herpes serologic tests, are available for both types of the virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Type-specific glycoprotein G-based serologic tests are designed to detect whether there are any antibodies to the herpes virus in the blood. Blood tests have a sensitivity of about 80-98% for HSV-2. Test ResultsIf antibodies for HSV-2 are present, it’s a genital infection. HSV-1 is very common in the population and antibodies for this type of herpes typically indicate an oral infection. However, there’s a small chance of getting an HSV-1 genital infection and the test cannot distinguish where the infection is located. Get Tested for STIs At Home Nurx offers at home test kits for common STIs with or without insurance. False negatives are not common with this type of test, but there’s still a chance that a negative result for HSV-1 or HSV-2 may not be accurate depending on the timing of your exposure. Since it takes the body some time to develop antibodies to the virus, the results may be negative if you are tested soon after becoming infected. False PositivesFalse positives are a concern with herpes blood tests. A false positive result is possible with any diagnostic test, but researchers worry that the outcome of a false positive for herpes may be particularly damaging since it is a lifelong infection. Due to the concern over false positives, these blood tests are only recommended for people with herpes symptoms and those who have a higher risk for infection, such as people who have a partner with genital herpes. Herpes is one of the most stigmatized, feared, and misunderstood sexually transmitted infections (STI). We test many patients for herpes at our OBGYN offices in Queens and Long Island, and we get lots of positive results, which understandably cause lots of anxiety for affected patients. In this blog, we’ll break it down for you. Bottom line: There’s no need to freak out about positive results. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, which can cause painful sores on the mouth and/or genitals.
It used to be said that “HSV-1 causes lesions above the waist and HSV-2 causes lesions below the waist,” but this an oversimplification: Oral HSV-1 can be communicated to the genitals by oral sex and genital HSV-2 can be similarly communicated to the mouth. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause lesions in the mouth, the genitals, and in other areas (around the anus, in the eyes, or in areas where skin has been traumatized). At our OBGYN offices in Queens and Long Island, we provide STI testing for hundreds (maybe thousands) of women each year, and diagnosis of genital herpes is incredibly common. Women are understandably shocked when they hear that they’ve tested positive, and we often have to “talk them off the ledge.” There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about herpes out there. Here are 4 reasons why a positive herpes test is not the end of the world.
Many people who live with herpes outbreaks learn that they are prone to certain “triggers”: One patient tells me that she gets outbreaks when she’s sleep-deprived, and another tells me she gets lesions when she eats a lot of chocolate. People with herpetic infections can thus learn to manage their triggers to minimize the chance of an outbreak. For those who get frequent outbreaks—say, more than 3 or 4 per year—medications are available which shorten the duration of symptoms and decrease the likelihood of spreading the virus. If you get frequent outbreaks and are have not discussed the possibility of using medications to suppress the herpes virus, you should call us for an appointment.
A diagnosis of herpes is not the end of the world, but women should know where they stand. We encourage testing for all sexually active women. If you suspect you may have had exposure to the herpes virus, you should come see us for an evaluation. We’re here to answer your questions candidly and discuss a long-term management strategy. How common is a false positive HSV 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 get a false positive HSVFalse positive test results show that a person has an infection or condition when they do not. This can happen with many kinds of diagnostic tests. However, the chance of a false positive herpes test result is much higher than when testing for STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Are HSVHerpes blood tests have a sensitivity level of about 80-98%. This type of test detects antibodies to the herpes virus, so it may not be as accurate when performed soon after infection.
Will I always test positive for HSVIf the infection occurred very recently (within a few weeks to 3 months), the test may be negative, but you may still be infected. This is called a false negative. It can take up to 3 months after a possible herpes exposure for this test to be positive.
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