Genital herpes

Is a confirmatory blood test worth chasing?

Positive on a type specific blood test, no symptoms ever. I have read that some positives near the cutoff should be confirmed with a different test. Is it worth pushing for?

old_boots 1 month ago

NoteMember experience, not medical advice. Symptoms overlap between infections and only a test can tell them apart.

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quietkettle 1 month ago

It can be, and this is exactly the conversation to have with whoever ordered it rather than deciding here.

The relevant question is where your result sat relative to the cutoff. Results close to the line are the ones where a second, different test is sometimes recommended before anyone treats it as settled. Ask for the actual value.

cold_start 1 month ago

Availability of the confirmatory testing varies a lot by country, so the answer may simply be that it is not on offer where you are. Worth asking rather than assuming either way.

slow_thaw 4 weeks ago

The reason to bother is not curiosity. It is that the label changes how you talk to partners and how you feel about yourself for years. If the result is uncertain, it is worth knowing that it is uncertain.

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