Question:
Hi. I am a female in my mid thirties who was divorced 4 years ago. No sex whatsoever (heck, not even a date) since then. Sad, but true. My ex husband tested positive for herpes 1 and 2 toward the end of the marriage. He frequently got the rashes, and after some time I had what I thought were the rashes as well. I had areas that tingled, and places that looked like tiny cuts (though the cuts have been like only 3 or 4 times maybe and only 1 at a time). When he tested positive, I thought there was no need to test myself (b/c I seemed to have some of the symptoms, and he was for sure positive and so forth). I guess I just felt like I for sure had it.

Recently, I have decided to not sit around moping anymore over my plight, and do the prudent thing and get tested. After reading your boards, I thought the best thing to do was get the HerpeSelect test. The following are the results:

Herpes Simplex Type 1/2
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Types I and II Specific Antibodies, IgG (QHO) HSV-1 aB IgG <0.90 <0.90 NEGATIVE
HSV-2 aB IgG <0.90 <0.90 NEGATIVE
(I just cut and pasted exactly what the report shows)

They didn't actually give me values, just that the result was "negative." So as you can see, I am stunned with the results. As a matter of fact, I have had "tingling" for 1 1/2 weeks (at the very time I took the test). Do you guys think this was a "false" negative, especially since the result only states negative as opposed to a value of any sort? Also a false negative on both when he was positive on both???? Really???? I hate to question the test, but certainly do...and if I am to get out of my "never" dating again mode, would need to really be sure of this for disclosure reasons. I mean what would I say, "hey, my x had herpes 1 & 2, I thought I did too, but the test says I don't...but then I get these crazy symptoms..." Sure the potential person would run for the hills!!!! Not so much b/c of the herpes, but b/c I sounded like a crazy person.

I am open to any and all suggestions and thoughts on this. Thanks in advance.

Answer:
Would Lysine affect a Herpeselect test result? Meaning if you were taking it, could it show a false negative? I was thinking not, but wanted other opinions on this too.