Question:
I understand that the herpes virus can inhabit a cell in a latent stage lasting years. I was exposed over 20 years ago and my test last week for genital herpes was equivocal. Is it possible for this infection to show up after 20 years?

Answer:
Do you mean that it's only now showing up on the test results?

Answer:
equivocal means unknown.....you should probably get retested.
are you positive that you were exposed to the virus that long ago? if you knew you had it why did you wait so long to get tested? and did you get the type specific test? you said you have genital herpes....what type is it? did you test positive for both or just one?

There could be an error and thats why its equivocal. I think they say to wait a couple weeks(4) to get retested if your results are equivocal.

Answer:
I just tested equivocal to 2. I am also showing symptoms (burning, itching in the penis region).

I wasn't tested before because I never had any symptoms. The question is the length of time. Is it possible for the virus to exist in my system for 20+ years and not have any symptoms? If I did receive the virus 20+ years ago, could my test be equivocal?