Is the a chance my herpes test was wrong?!

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Nope u can carry the anti-bodies and not have an outbreak coz it doesn't mean u actually have Genital Herpes 2 or Herpes 1 Cold sore type. as it may mean another type Zoster ..OK ?

ER Nurse

It depends on what test was used--the IgM....OR the IgG.

The IgM blood test, for example, is absolutely notorious for giving both false negatives--and false positives. Further, it does not tell you which "type" of the virus you have--HSV-1 (oral herpes/cold sores, which can be spread to the genitals via oral sex) OR HSV-2 (genital herpes). In addition, the IgM often confuses the antibodies from chickenpox, mono, and Epstein-Barr as oral/genital herpes. For some reason, many doctors think the IgM is fine for diagnosing herpes--IT ISN'T!

Since you apparently were told you were positive 12 years ago and have never had an outbreak, I'm wondering whether you actually tested positive for ORAL herpes--which 80% of the people in the US have! Since the IgM doesn't differentiate between oral and genital herpes, you could have been thinking all this time that you are infected--and aren't.

To clear up any suspicions, the next time you go to the doctor or to a clinic, ASK for the IgG type-specific herpes blood test. Unless you specifically ASK for it, you will NOT receive it in standard STD testing (or HIV, either!). After 12 years, the antibodies for both HSV-2 AND HSV-1 will be in your blood by now, so it should be a very quick diagnosis for you! (Antibodies to the virus show up in the blood 2 weeks-4 months AFTER you are exposed to the virus.)

I know you must have a LOT of questions by now, so I'm also including a link to the Herpes Handbook--free, not spam. Pay particular attention to the part on diagnosis and testing! I think it will answer a lot of your questions!

Good luck!

http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_h…

You're not likely to get false positives when it comes to testing for herpes,you're more likely to get false negatives. If the antibodies for herpes are in your blood then you have it.
You can have herpes with out having a lot of symptoms with very mild to no break outs. Some people just carry the virus in their body with out showing many signs or symptoms.