
Originally Posted by
magic32
Not if you’ve been intimate for several months, assuming she’s been faithful and didn’t recently contract and transmit to you.
Blood tests do not actually detect the virus; instead, they look for antibodies (the body's immune response) in the blood. When an individual contracts herpes, the immune system responds by developing antibodies to fight the virus: IgG and IgM. Blood tests look for and detect these antibodies, as the virus itself is not in blood. IgG appears soon after infection and stays in the blood for life. IgM is actually the first antibody that appears after infection, but it may disappear thereafter.
Although it takes time for IgG antibodies to reach detectable levels, time can vary from person to person. For one person, it could take just a few weeks, while it could take a few months for another. So even with the accurate tests, a person could receive a false negative if the test is taken too soon after contracting the virus. For the most accurate test result, it is recommended to wait 12 - 16 weeks from the last possible date of exposure before getting an accurate, type-specific blood test in order to allow enough time for antibodies to reach detectable levels.
So if you’ve been dating for one year, and she contracted prior to said dating, as long as you began having sex more than 4mths ago your test is valid.
Regarding your decision:
It’s obviously a personal call. Some people only have one outbreak, while others have several. Meds reduce inflammation time, but Kale’s pics look terrible and I hear affected area pain is intense and urination is excruciating.
Should you continue even with a condom and Valtrex, you’ll likely contract it and if so, for life.
Best to you,
M.