What can cause a false positive IgG herpes test?

A person who only has HSV-1 may receive a false positive for HSV-2. IgM tests sometimes cross-react with other viruses in the same family, such as varicella zoster virus (VZV) which causes chickenpox or cytomegalovirus (CMV) which causes mono, meaning that positive results may be misleading.

How common is a false positive HSV-2 IgG test?

Meanwhile, the CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force concur that the most widely available herpes test, called HerpeSelect, should not be used to screen asymptomatic people because of its high risk of false positives: Up to 1 in 2 positive tests could be false, according to the USPSTF’s most recent guidelines.

Does IgG positive mean I have herpes?

A positive HSV IgG blood test indicates that herpes immunoglobulin G is present. This means the person is carrying the herpes virus. An HSV IgG test will not be positive in the early stages of an infection.

Can you test positive for herpes and not have it?

Symptoms of HSV are often short-lived and mild. Many people who test positive for herpes antibodies have no symptoms; often, they can’t recall even a single outbreak.

How accurate is IgG herpes test?

The IgG test is about 94% accurate in detecting the infection. About 19% of the time, its results are false positive (that is, the test is positive for herpes infection when the person does not have herpes). By contrast, the herpes IgM antibodies tests give almost 50% false-negative results.

Can you have herpes antibodies and not have herpes?

If antibodies to the virus are present, the person has been infected with herpes simplex at some point in his or her life. If the infection is very recent, a few weeks to a month, antibodies may not be detected, but a person may still be infected.

How often is herpes misdiagnosed?

Turns out herpes is misdiagnosed 20% of the time, with professionals mistaking everything from fungal and yeast infections to other skin conditions for the STD. The tests themselves are also inaccurate; failing to detect up to 25% of “true positive” cases.

Can a visual diagnosis of herpes be wrong?

Unfortunately, a visual examination without correct testing can result in misdiagnosis, and even if the diagnosis is correct – the type of herpes simply can’t be confirmed through a visual exam alone.