How accurate is herpes blood test?
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How accurate is herpes blood test?
Herpes blood tests have a sensitivity level of about 80-98%. This type of test detects antibodies to the herpes virus, so it may not be as accurate when performed soon after infection.
What is the most reliable test for herpes?
PCR test: The PCR test can tell if you have genital herpes even if you don’t have symptoms. The PCR test looks for pieces of the virus’s DNA in a sample taken from cells or fluids from a genital sore or the urinary tract. This is a commonly used test to diagnose genital herpes and is very accurate.
Can test results for herpes be wrong?
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.
What can cause a false positive HSV-2 IgG 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.
Can a herpes IgG test be wrong?
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.
How often are herpes tests wrong?
The widely available tests for herpes are famously inaccurate and can give false positives up to 50%. In some cases they can fail to detect the virus at all.
Can HSV-2 IgG be wrong?
The chances of false positive results increase as the likelihood of the infection decreases in the person being tested. False positive HSV-2 results can happen, especially in people who are at low risk for a herpes infection.
