Possible herpes?

[geekypants.livejournal.com]

Hey all...

I haven't had any kind of sexual contact in 18 months. Last November I asked to be tested for all STDs at my annual exam. They tested for chlamydia/etc. at the office and sent me to the hospital lab for blood work. I was told that they would do a blood "screen" at the lab...so I guess my first question is, does that test for everything (HIV, Herpes, etc.)? Both tests came back negative.

About a two weeks ago, I started having neck pains and fever/chills. After a few days, this developed into even worse fever/headache...doctors suspected mono or strep but both tests came back negative. I had to go to the hospital on Friday night to bring down the fever. On Saturday I noticed the inside of my lower right inner labia was a bit swollen...it turns out I have a single, relatively large, white sore there. There doesn't seem to be any redness but it does hurt. Is this herpes? What is happening? I thought I had been cleared for herpes with the blood test...is it even common for a first breakout to occur this long after infection? I am away from home and don't have the means to get to a doctor right away and am nervous.

Thanks for your help!

Comments

[sandraivette.livejournal.com]

Herpes isn't detected with a blood test. It's usually detected with visual examination and a swab test of the sore once it has erupted. Have you had your doc check the SORE out? And it usually erupts in clusters.

[abbey4321.livejournal.com]

A blood test can be used to test for herpes antibodies... although these tests often aren't done because they are expensive, most insurance wont cover them, and a very large percentage of the population will test positive for HSV 1.

Also, OP, symptoms for herpes can show up a long time after exposure. I know mine did. Your best bet would be to head to the doctor, have them examine you, and possibly culture the sore. My first outbreak came complete with the flu like symptoms that you are describing.

[sandraivette.livejournal.com]

That's probably why my doc told me otherwise about getting tested for herpes. Thanks!

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Herpes can be detected with a blood test (http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_testing.cfm#3), though blood tests can only tell you that the HSV antibodies are present in one's system -- not that a particular lesion is or is not caused by a strain of HSV. If the blood screen mentioned in the OP included herpes (which is not terribly likely -- in the absence of symptoms, HSV is not part of most STI screenings) and if the blood test returned negative results for HSV-1 and HSV-2, that would pretty much rule out HSV as a cause of this particular sore.