HI, My question is simple. Can a serum blood test distinguish between a HPV virus and an HSV 2 virus?

I know that for herpes you can have the specific type, but with a regular HSV 2 test it only shows the antibodies. I'm really not sure about the HPV, I know that it is a virus, so can it be detected when they take blood for the HSV 2?

Hi,

No, the blood test cannot distinguish between the Herpes and the Human Papilloma Virus The Herpes test is a blood test whereas the HPV test is a cerical swab done in women. The is no test available for man for HPV.

The HPV test is available only in women and looks for evidence of infection by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of about 100 related viruses that cause skin warts and genital warts (also called condylomata). Common in young men and women, most HPV infections are short-lived and relatively benign. A few types of HPV (such as HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-45), however, are considered high-risk. They do not usually cause visible warts, but they are persistent and have been linked to cervical, penile, and other forms of genital cancer.

Be well,

Dr. Gian

Dear Dr. Gian,

First, my only possible exposure for herpes was over 10 years ago. I had a herpes-like symptoms last September and my doctor ordered a blood test, of which I re-type as follows:

     TEST             Results           Reference Range         Units

Abnormal        Normal 

HSV (I & II), IGM                                    None Detected

                                                         * Herpes Simplex (HSV) IGm Test  measures total IGM antibodies including TYPE I and TYPE II

Sent to:Unilab Corp.

Tazana, CA

Herpes I (IGG) EIA        2.0       0.00-20.0       ELISA

Herpes II (IGG) EIA       0.0  0.00 - 30.0 ELISA

Culture, VIRAL

Organism Isolated              Shell Vial Negative

          NO Virus Isolated.

My doctor said I am free, but I am still experiencing symptoms from time to time with no clear explanation.

My ultimate question is: Should I consider this test final and ease my mind?

Thank you.

Hi,

Your Doctor is right. It looks by the report that your Doctor might have requested a Herpes antibodies test and the Lab performed a standard, non specific, herpes IgG Elisa test. However you are negative with IgM, viral culture and IgG and your exposure was 10 years ago. You do not describe the symptoms that you are experiencing but I doubt they are symptoms of Herpes infections. So talk about them with your Doctor and it may be the time to close the Herpes case.

In good health,

Dr. Gian

Dr. Gian,

I have recently been diagonissed with Herpes type 2 at the age of 32yrs. old and am now engaged. I have been with this person sexually for 8 mos now and have never had a herpes outbreak before neither have I ever been diagonised with a herpes before. My question lies in a carrier for this disease. I was told by the doctors that a person can be a carrier and never have an out break. My fiance swears he has never had herpes or ever been diagonsed with it. I am wondering if you are a carrier and have sexual intercourse with someone who has an active outbreak will you not have an outbreak of your own? I ask this because before I knew it was herpes my fiancé and I had sexual intercourse about 3 times and he has no signs of herpes or any symptoms of an outbreak. Can you explain this?

Hi,

Yes you can have a positive Herpes type 2 serology (presence of antibodies in your blood) and never had or never noticed symptoms of primary Herpes infection.

Having sexual intercourse with a person with Herpes type 2 outbreaks is a situation of high risk for being infected but does not mean a necessarily automatic infection. However it is advisable for that partner to exercise protection during sexual intercourse and to recurrently test for herpes type 2 antibodies.

I hope this helps,

Dr. Gian

I think you are right thinking of a possibility of Herpes infection with flare ups.  For the inflammation which starts the clinical manifestation of the skin infection feel free to use anything that might help soothing it.  I hear that a Dermatologist, Fredric Haberman, M.D., a clinical instructor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, recommends oatmeal water to soothe non specific inflammation of the skin. He suggests to wrap dry oatmeal in cheesecloth or gauze. Run cool water through it. Discard the oatmeal and soak compresses in the liquid. Apply every 2 to 4 hours.

However you need to find out by taking a Herpes culture and/or a blood screening test and see a Physician. Treatment with antiviral for acute stage of the infection and suppressive treatment for flare ups are very effective. They abort or prevent flare ups and suppress asymptomatic viral shedding, one of the reasons for the wild spreading of this virus.

Be well.

Dr. Gian