What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 19 Mar 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 Answered on

Thu, 26 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello,
I want to know what is the below report means,

HSV 1/2 IGG,TYPE SPECIFIC AB HERPESELECT

HSV 1 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB Flag H 0.98
HSV 2 IGG TYPE SPECIFIC AB 0.33

I know that <0.90 is negative and >1.10 is positive. The HSV1 reading is in between negative and positive. This is the reading of someone who is important for me and I want to know the meaning of this reading before I move further. Any suggestions from the medical point of view would be really appreciated.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You need not be worried.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

The results for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) for HSV type 1 is in the equivocal range. Unless the test is strongly positive (possibly 4 or 5 times the normal range), you need not assume it to be positive. Moreover, 70-80% of the US population tests positive for HSV 1 and you need not worry about it. HSV 1 causes the cold sores that most of us get sometime when we catch a cold or get a fever. IgG indicates that sometime in life (not necessarily recently) you might have had such a cold sore. It is not a cause for concern.

HSV 2 is generally the cause of genital herpes. It has already tested negative and hence you need not worry.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (4 hours later)

Thanks for the answer. I have two questions,

1. Is the person who has HSV1 equivocal range ( 0.98 ) can pass HSV1 to other person by kissing or any other skin to skin contact?

2. Is the person who has HSV1 equivocal range ( 0.98 ) need to re-test to confirm whether it is negative or positive?

3. You mentioned that unless the test is strongly positive ( possibly 4 or 5 times the normal range) its not positive. However, the document says that anything higher than 1.10 is positive. Kindly clarify this.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Equivocal does not mean positive.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I find your apprehension baseless. HSV can spread through kissing. But how does it matter? There are numerous types of bacteria in your oral cavity. They too can spread by kissing. Its therefore upon you to decide what to do. But tell me whether you yourself are facing any problems if you have an HSV infection (just like majority of the population)?

If apprehensive, you have feel free to retest.

Although level higher than 1.10 is positive, in case of positivity much higher results are usually obtained.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar