Question:
I was recently diagnosed with herpes type 1 and 2. I have a long history of herpes type 1. I grew up having episodes of facial herpes (the first time being inside my eye, but I have not had an episode for about five years.

But I recently did a test and it revealed that I also have Herpes type 2 (genital herpes). I do not have any symptoms or outbreaks. My question is, could the result be false because I have the antibodies for the type 1?

Also is it true that other disease such as mono, CMV, etc, could cause a false positive? I was infected with HPV when I was 20. Could the antibodies also have affected the result and give a false positive herpes 2?

Answer:
It is possible that these tests can produce false positives, especially if they are based on a blood test alone, not on a swab of an active lesion. And there's also some chance that having had other types of herpes-family viruses such as epstein-barr (mono) or CMV could affect the result. (Although HPV would have no effect on this, because it's a completely different family of viruses and is not at all related to herpes).

However, it is also entirely likely that you do in fact have herpes type 2 and have just never had a genital outbreak.

The bottom line is, herpes type 1 and 2 are essentially the same thing, so it's not as though you have double the herpes. You seem to have a strong immune system (and perhaps a healthy lifestyle), if you rarely have oral herpes outbreaks and have never had a genital herpes outbreak, so you have to count yourself lucky in that respect.

The one change you will have to make if you do have herpes 2 is to make sure to practice safe sex.

(based on original question by user neige)