Question:
I just found out that my blood test cam back negative for HSV -1 and HSV -2 instead of being relieved i'm just confused because I told all this to my ex-boyfriend and he told me that he had HSV-1 and had had it for 6 months. Now it is possible that he got it after we broke up, but its also possible that the symptoms just didn't show up.

Are blood tests ever wrong?? I would have had to have had it for over 9 months (thats the last time i did anything) with no symptoms until now. It just seems really odd to me that he has it and I have similar symptoms- head aches the day before, swelling (but no blisters) for 2 days and then like an open wound sore for another 3 days, and lower back pain. It has healed up now.

Just really wondering!

Answer:
Most people don't really know how long they've had HSV1; because it's so common and most people get it as a child.

People can go years with no symptoms, but they'll have it and spread the virus. The stats are shocking, 60-80% of the population has oral HSV1, 25% of adults have Genital HSV2, yet 90% of them don't know it. So, if you have a classroom or office with 100 people, 25 have genital herpes but only 2 know it.

No blood test is 100%, the key to proper blood testing is waiting at least 12-16 weeks post last possible exposure before getting tested. Getting a test too soon could yield a false negative result because the antibodies weren't detectable. At 16 weeks the accuracy of the HerpeSelet test is about 97%

The other key to proper testing is getting the correct test, an IgG type specific blood test, HerpeSelect is the most common. Skip the older IgM test and the combination HSVI/II test, they're of little help.

Also, don't assume someone who's positive with HSV is dripping the virus 24hrs a day, and you'll catch it by touching them or using the same toilet seat. It doesn't work that way. If it did then every man woman and child on the planet would have both types of HSV.

Hope this helps
Regards
Mr Smith

Answer:
Thank you! yeah i have heard that about waiting fir the bloodtest, but anything i have is at least 9 months old...

Anyway when I had called the hospital they lied to me. I specifically asked them if they had done a blood test for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 and they said yes and that they were negative, well I wanted to see it in print so i went to the hospital to pick up my results and it turns out all they did was a culture! so then i had to get my blood drawn AGAIN today so that they can test for it. Ahhh its just all so frustrating!!

And im leaving to go back to school this weekend, new classes, new place, ect. and the last thing i want to be worrying about is this.

How long did it take before you could go a whole day with out thinking about it???