Herpes blood test - herpes 2 test result - detected

Herpes 2 detected! Does this mean I have herpes 2 or does the result have to say positive?

Answer
It means that hsv-2 antibodies were detected. Blood tests for herpes detect the presence of herpes antibodies. Antibodies detected by herpes blood tests are known as IgG and IgM.

If you examine your test results you'll see the letters IgM and IgG. If the IgM is positive it means that the infection is active. If IgM is negative and IgG is positive, it means that you have developed sufficient antibodies to put the virus into remission. i.e. The IgG/IgM test will tell you whether you have a current infection or residual antibodies from a previous infection.

Additional information: The present testing for herpes is based on antibody testing as with either the IgM/IgG Elisa Test or the Western Blot Test. Both these merely signifies that the virus once existed within the body. They do not tell us anything about the likelihood of transmission or whether the virus has been eliminated from the body. They can not determine a cure.