Deciphering IgG Herpes Test Results: Understanding the Numbers
Among those deciphering IgG herpes test results, common questions involve the number scale used to determine whether a result is positive or negative. The search for an answer can become obsessive for some.
Typically, results will show a range of numbers used to determine if someone’s results are negative, equivocal, or positive for herpes antibodies.
The following is a widely used scale, however, it may vary slightly depending on who facilitates the test (aka it is not absolute and depends on the test and testing facility):
Negative: less than 0.90
Equivocal: 0.90-1.10
Positive: greater than 1.10
So, *does* the number matter?
These numbers are commonly referred to as “reference ranges” or “normal values” (HHS, 2020). These are the values determined from a larger population to help decipher results. The purpose of these numbers is to determine if someone has herpes. It is not indicative that those with higher reference range results are more prone to outbreaks, or experience more severe outbreaks.
Ultimately, a herpes test’s purpose is to determine if you have antibodies to either or both HSV-1 or HSV-2. It cannot tell you 1) when you got it, 2) how long you’ve had it, 3) who you got it from, or 4) how your body and the virus interact with one another.
While I believe that IgG tests are great for informing partners, I still believe that knowing how your body responds to the virus offers more personalized knowledge to share with them, as well as guiding your experience with HSV.