What can cause a false positive HSV-2 IgG test?

A person who only has HSV-1 may receive a false positive for HSV-2. IgM tests sometimes cross-react with other viruses in the same family, such as varicella zoster virus (VZV) which causes chickenpox or cytomegalovirus (CMV) which causes mono, meaning that positive results may be misleading.

How common are false positive HSV-2 tests?

HSV-2 isn’t included in the standard panel of tests for sexually transmitted infections. The widely available tests for herpes are famously inaccurate and can give false positives up to 50%. In some cases they can fail to detect the virus at all.

Can HSV-2 be misdiagnosed?

False positive results can occur with many diagnostic tests, including STD tests. The chances of false positive results increase as the likelihood of the infection decreases in the person being tested. False positive HSV-2 results can happen, especially in people who are at low risk for a herpes infection.

Can HSV-2 be mistaken for something else?

Herpes symptoms can be mistaken for many other things, including: A different STI which causes visible lesions, such as Syphilis or genital warts (HPV) Irritation caused by shaving. Ingrown hairs.

What does HSV 2 positive mean?

If your test result is positive, it can mean that you have an active herpes infection without symptoms. It can also mean that you had an HSV infection in the past. The antibody blood test is not as reliable as culturing a sample from a herpes sore.

How do you read HSV IgG results?

The results of your HSV blood test will generally be reported as positive, negative, or equivocal. A positive result means that IgG was detected, while a negative result means that IgG was not detected. An equivocal test means that the results were unclear.

What is the positive range for HSV 2?