Report: Herpes Test Often Wrong

Posted August 30th, 2005 by jack

There's a fairly disturbing report being reported by Reuters that says Herpes lab tests are often wrong. According to the report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology more than half of 172 labs reported a sample as being positive for HSV2 (Genital Herpes), when in actual fact, it was negative, but positive for HSV1 (cold sores).

Currently, only tests based on a protein called glycoprotein G have been proven effective in typing antibodies to HSV, Morrow and Brown from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle note in their report.

Ninety-four of the laboratories reported the type of test they used for HSV-2 antibody detection. All 44 sites that used a glycoprotein G-based test accurately reported that the sample did not contain HSV-2 antibodies. Labs that used non-glycoprotein G-based assays, on the other hand, "demonstrated high false-positive rates (14 percent to 88 percent) for HSV-2 antibodies."

One of the most often talked about subjects here at HerpesDoctor is the Herpes test, and often relating to its accuracy. It may be worth finding out from your doctor what kind of test he's giving you.

Comments

herpes and gas pain

On April 23rd, 2006 bridge says:

Hi,

I just joined the forum. I've had herpes for several years but finally have decided to seek some others in a similar boat.

So, I am curious about the connections people have made between herpes and other symptoms. I'm no doctor but I do follow health related issues and try to find a link between my symptoms in order to manage my stress/behavior leading to a herpes outbreak.

I've noticed an outbreak soon after having stomach pains - what I believe are gas pains.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Or has anyone noticed a pattern of other symptoms that appear around the time of an outbreak?

Thanks for feedback

herpes and gas pain

On April 23rd, 2006 bridge says:

Hi,

I just joined the forum. I've had herpes for several years but finally have decided to seek some others in a similar boat.

I've noticed an outbreak soon after having stomach pains - what I believe are gas pains.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Or has anyone noticed a pattern of other symptoms that appear around the time of an outbreak?

Thanks for feedback

Prodromal symptoms

On May 4th, 2006 lido says:

I'm a newbie at having herpes...3 outbreak so far! And counting...

The prodromal symptoms I have noticed so far are:
tiredness++, mild aching body, small whitehead spots appear about a week before my outbreaks (I don't normally get them) either on my face or on my torso, dry cracked lips, mild stabbing headache, stiff lower back for 3-4 days before outbreak, elevated temperature, mildly swollen glands in groin (or neck) and yes, pain to upper right side of my abdomen, like a griping sensation. I am wondering if the blisters are forming there, too? Guess I'll never know :-(

Everything is rather mild, so it's easy to see how people miss the signs. Guess it's all about getting to know your body well.

Regards,
Lido

Herpes Doctor