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Is Herpes IgG Level Of 0.71 A Cause For Concern?

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Posted on Fri, 9 Oct 2015
Question: I just received my lab result from a HSV PCR herpes test and it came back negative for both hsv1 and hsv2. However my boyfriend has herpes IgG and it game back positive even though the value was only .71, is this correct?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This is probably negative

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
There are some variations depending on laboratory, but generally index value below 0.9 indicates a negative result and it means that igg antibodies were found but in very small amounts that are not significant for herpes infection. However herpes cant be 100% ruled out unless 6 months from possible infection has passed. So some labs writes that any value,even less than 0.9 is positive but it doesnt means that herpes infection exists while other labs automatically define values ess than 0.9 as negative so he has no reason to worry. Wish you good health Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)
thank you Doctor. I have a few more questions

The test I had was HSV 1/2 PCR for herpes hsv1 and hsv2, and my boyfriend had IgG and Igm, what are the differences in these test and which is more accurate?
I have not been with anyone else sexually since August 2014 and then my boyfriend and I started dating in end of January 2015 and I got tested end of march and just 2 weeks ago and both times it was negative.
What does it mean that he has a .71 index? Does that mean he could have herpes but his body has not been able to produce enough antibodies to show up and if not how do you explain that his index was .71. What sort of protein antibodies could make up that number if not Herpes?
I just assumed that if you do not have the herpes virus your index value should be zero, or is that not correct?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
hi

Detailed Answer:
PCR is more accurate, PCR will detect DNA and RNA of specific virus which is herpes in this case. RNA is different for each type of virus or any organism so any positive value meand that test is positive.
Serologic tests are however something else. These detects antibodies that are developed as a response to infection. These tests are less specific since these may detect antibodies to some other viruses or antibodies that were developed in childhood so some IGG or IGM may be detected even if there is no infection. So you would probbaly have some index of igg for hsv too.
SO the negative,borderline and positive values are defined for each test. For this test AB index shows that anything ess than 0.7 means no significant level of detectable HSV IgG antibody. It means that herpes infection must go with higher values of igg,more than 1.1. It is not matter if test is showing 0, 0.3 or 0.8,this is all negative.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (22 hours later)
So I decided to take the igG test for herpes to appease my boyfriend and I just got the result 13.40. How can that be when the pcr test I took 2 weeks ago was negative and the one in March was negative. Could there be something else wrong with me?
The test was hsv type 2 specific ab, igG
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Few possibilities

Detailed Answer:
Some of tests may have been false negative or false positive, the wrong sample was take for pcr, you have recent herpes infection where adequate viral load for pcr is still not reached or you did hsv 1 specific pcr,instead of hsv2.

Hi.PCR test may give a false-negative result also if the sores have begun healing or if you are recently infected. Serologic antibody tests is indicative of herpes infection and this results shows that infection is more than several weeks old since it takes 3-4 weeks for HSV antibodies to show up in the blood. At this point,if you don't have symptoms,sores,fever, I wouldnt start therapy. I suggest to repeat both tests in 1 week and see results. If there is positive pcr and serology then treatment is required
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 13888 Questions

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Is Herpes IgG Level Of 0.71 A Cause For Concern?

Brief Answer: This is probably negative Detailed Answer: Hi and welcome. There are some variations depending on laboratory, but generally index value below 0.9 indicates a negative result and it means that igg antibodies were found but in very small amounts that are not significant for herpes infection. However herpes cant be 100% ruled out unless 6 months from possible infection has passed. So some labs writes that any value,even less than 0.9 is positive but it doesnt means that herpes infection exists while other labs automatically define values ess than 0.9 as negative so he has no reason to worry. Wish you good health Regards