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How Accurate Is A IGG Herpes Blood Test At 12 Weeks?

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Posted on Thu, 4 Sep 2014
Question: how accurate is a negative Igg herpes blood test Hsv 1 and 2 at 12 weeks? Versus doing it at 16 weeks? Should it be retaken at 16 weeks or at 6 months? With no outbreaks or symptoms
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCm

Detailed Answer:
There is minor benefit from repeated testing since Igg test reaches its maximal accuarcy of almost 98% already at 12 weeks and false negative results after this are extreme rarity. you can do it for peace of minds but this is not neccessary from medical point of view. If you want to be 100% sure than it is better to do PCR RNA testing. But if there is no outbreak,testing is really not required. Wish you good health. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (13 minutes later)
So my negative hsv igg 1 and 2 test at 12 weeks is 98% conclusive that I am negative for herpes?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
hi

Detailed Answer:
Yes.thats right.and this is maximal accuracy of such test
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (17 minutes later)
So if I wanted to retest for piece of mind...how many weeks would you recommend for absolute certainty?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hi

Detailed Answer:
So at 12 weeks accuracy is 98% and at 16 weeks it is almost 99%. This test is never 100% accurate even after 6 months or 1 years since every test has some limits and theoretically there is possiblity of false negative rsult but this is seen in less than 1 per million cases. PCR is the only test which is 100% but it is compeltely unnecessary since herpes is not fatal disease such as HIV or hepatitis. So i dont see reason for retesting,just relax and trust me, you dont have herpes infection.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 13887 Questions

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How Accurate Is A IGG Herpes Blood Test At 12 Weeks?

Brief Answer: Hi and welcome to HCm Detailed Answer: There is minor benefit from repeated testing since Igg test reaches its maximal accuarcy of almost 98% already at 12 weeks and false negative results after this are extreme rarity. you can do it for peace of minds but this is not neccessary from medical point of view. If you want to be 100% sure than it is better to do PCR RNA testing. But if there is no outbreak,testing is really not required. Wish you good health. Regards