Question

Is it possible to have zero symptoms or any signs of HSV? If you get tested and its + how can you find out how long you have had it? Or could the test have misidentified the diagnosis?

[markh57]

It's certainly possible to have herpes outbreaks that are so mild you might not notice them. Between outbreaks there are no sign and symptoms.

The only way of getting a definite diagnosis is from a swab during an outbreak, which isn't much use to you.

There is a blood test but it's not very good which is why they dont include it in sti screening normally. It doesnt distinguish between genital Herpes and the cold sore virus. It doesnt tell you how long ago you got it. So.................... if you get a negative result it proves you havnt got it, but if you get a posative result it only proves you've either had genital herpes OR a cold sore sometime during your life. not very helpfull

[Hidden in reply to markh57]

I had 2blood tests show negative, no outbreaks or symptoms, and there was this last test that was + and that was after a new partner. I was married for some years to a person that was +.

Noone is sure what to tell me either.

[saj01]

Try reading up the information on hva.org.uk, from memory you might find one or two answers there. I may be wrong, but I have an inkling that it's possible to have an immunity to it.... I'm sure I've read something along those lines.... not sure about being a carrier though. I wouldn't have thought there is a test of any kind for anything which tells you how long you've had something.... unless it was something which, if untreated,progressively gets worse over a period of time like syphillis and affects other organs in time.