My herpes test shows equal level of IgG and IgM. Does this indicate herpes infection?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 28-year-old female. I tested for herpes a few months ago and got a negative IgG result and an equivocal result for IgM levels. I tested again this month and it was positive. Does this mean I have been recently infected with herpes?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to our portal.

Can you please send me the reports so I can check the values. Actually, it suggests that your body is fighting with a virus if IgM is increased, but you are saying it is equal. Kindly send reports.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to our portal.

Thanks for attaching the picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Actually, it suggests that you currently have a virus, and your body is fighting against it. Because it is not that high, so maybe that is why your body is showing no symptoms.

When a healthy immune system deals with the virus, then only it shows such results. Because you were recently positive, so even though you do not have any symptoms. Still, your body is dealing with it after a few weeks, it will come negative. It takes time for our body to develop antibodies against the virus so you are in that phase only. Your antibodies are not completely developed. So better to wait and hopefully, the next report will be negative. But be careful if you have contact with your partner then there are chances that your partner may get it. So avoid sexual contact for some time.

Do you have any symptoms right now? Are you taking any medicine?

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to our portal.

Actually, you have but the level is not so high that is why I said your body is dealing with it and with treatment next time your reports may be negative. What was the level last time? What symptoms do you have right now?

If you have then you should start the medicine again. Because may be you are infected or you were not completely cured from the previous herpes. Actually IgG shows that you recently had infection, where IgM shows you currently have infection and your body is dealing with it. Some patients feel no symptoms at all but some feel symptoms. It depends on person to person. I think after taking treatment you had no symptoms. And you were worried why you still have IgM equal or positive.

But as you mentioned you have symptoms and your results also shows slight increase in value. So it indicates you still have an infection. My suggestion is you should start taking treatment again and do the test after one month.

I hope this helps.