can someone contract genital herpes and take a test for the herpes
virus soon afterwards and test negative but actual have it and later
test postive?   i mean this along the lines of i recalling hearing of
people carrying the HIV virus that could test negative but because 
they are carriers they would later test positive for HIV.

also, can someone have genital herpes and never have any symptons of
it (outbreaks, illness, etc) but be able to transmit it to others via
the standard transition
methods (sexual contact, etc.)?

Hello meanmedianmode,

Thanks for your question.

As noted below in the terms of service, Google Answers is not a
substitute for professional medical advice, and I am not a doctor.
That being said, I found the following searching for herpes hidden
symptoms:

Virus Profiles pages at
http://library.thinkquest.org/23054/profiles/herpes/page2.html show
that yes, indeed, genital herpes can be transmitted by people who show
no symptoms:

"It is transmitted by direct contact with an active sore or a genital
secretion containing viruses. Pregnant women can also infect babies
during childbirth. The disease can be transmitted by people who show
no symptoms."

Symptoms do not appear immediately. They note:

"Symptoms occur two to ten days after exposure, and generally lasts
for two to three weeks. The initial outbreak is the worst.

HSV-1 causes cold sores around the mouth. HSV-2 causes the same thing
but around the genitals.

The virus produces flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, swollen
glands, fever, and sometimes shooting pain in the legs and abdomen.
Symptoms will subside without treatment."

The US Food and Drug Association pages on Herpes at
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/202_herp.html showthe following
regarding the possible appearanace of symptoms:

 "The scary part is that most people with genital herpes don't know
they have it, and are unaware they may be spreading it to others, says
Warren. Many have no symptoms or mistake their symptoms for something
else, such as jock itch, insect bites, hemorrhoids, yeast infections,
razor burn, or allergies to laundry detergent. "

"...Symptoms of genital herpes can vary in appearance and intensity.
Some people have no symptoms or such mild symptoms that they don't
suspect they have an infection. For others, the first episode of
herpes (primary infection) can cause one or more very painful lesions
to erupt on the skin. "

They also note:

"Genital herpes infects more than 1 of 5 adolescents and adults, the
CDC says. It is more common in blacks than in whites, and more likely
to infect women than men. Compared to 20 years ago, it's about five
times more common in 12- to 19-year-old whites and twice as common in
adults ages 20 to 29. "

In regards to your question about testing negative then positive at a
later date, this is possible. If the tests are performed soon after
exposure, they may return negative. Though after several weeks, even
with no symptoms, the test can return positve if the virus is present.

The FDA comments:

"In the past, genital herpes was diagnosed solely by visual inspection
and laboratory culture of an active sore. Herpes may now be diagnosed
with a blood test, even when no symptoms are apparent or after sores
have healed."

Do read the rest of this page. Their information is very complete. In
particular, note the sections on the emotional impact of this disease,
which can have more of an impact on the sufferer than the physical
disease. There are many support groups available for sufferers. A
search for herpes support groups at Google provides many options.

://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=herpes+support+groups

Do ask if anything above requires clarification.

Regards,

-=clouseau=-

---

Request for Answer Clarification by meanmedianmode-ga on 31 Oct 2002 14:33 PST

In regards to this statement of yours, I was unable to find the
evidence that backs it up:

"If the tests are performed soon after
exposure, they may return negative. Though after several weeks, even
with no symptoms, the test can return positve if the virus is
present."

Could you be more specific where you found this information?

Thank you

---

Clarification of Answer by clouseau-ga on 31 Oct 2002 14:55 PST

Hello again meanmedianmode,

That particular part of my answer was extrapolation. 

As it can take from 2 to 10 days after exposure for symptoms to show
and the virus to take hold, there is most likely a period of time
which will vary by individual in which testing will show negative even
though the disease has been transmitted. I am lead to believe that
after 10 days, if there has been a positive transmission, the test
would then detect it, but a test a day or two after exposure might
return negative.

-=clouseau=-

---

Request for Answer Clarification by meanmedianmode-ga on 31 Oct 2002 15:15 PST

I appreciate your rapid response and thorough answer, but I am afraid
you have yet to answer the root of my question beyond mere
extrapolation. I am seeking information on this subject in particular.

You write: 
"As it can take from 2 to 10 days after exposure for symptoms to show
and the virus to take hold, there is most likely a period of time
which will vary by individual in which testing will show negative even
though the disease has been transmitted."

I understand that you are not a doctor, but you are stating something
that I already have considered. Also, it would seem that the onset of
symptoms and the likelihood of testing positive are not correlated
considering one need not show any symptoms to be a carrier.

Could you perhaps point me to a study or other source that states that
it is possible to test negative even though one has contracted herpes?

Thank you.

---

Clarification of Answer by clouseau-ga on 31 Oct 2002 15:34 PST

Hello again,

I searched further, and ironicly found something a little different
than what I expected - that even after symptoms you can still test
false negative:

http://www.ashastd.org/hrc/educate.html
American Social Health Associa

"If symptoms of genital herpes appear, they can vary widely from
person to person. If a person does experience visible symptoms, we
recommend obtaining a culture test within the first 48 hours after
symptoms appear. Beyond 48 hours, there is a risk of receiving a false
negative test result because symptoms may have begun to heal."

So a culture after healing has begun can produce a false negative.

They continue...

"Blood tests can be used when a person has no symptoms but has
concerns about having herpes. There are many blood tests available,
but many are not always accurate. Many standard blood tests cannot
accurately distinguish between type-1 and type-2 herpes and can
sometimes mistake other herpes viruses (such as chicken pox) for the
herpes simplex virus."

Just to be sure, I called the National Herpes Hotline at 919-361-8488.
They stated that after contracting herpes, it can take 3-4 months for
the anitbodies to develop in the blood stream. During this time, there
is a high risk that any blood test will return a false negative. Blod
tests are most accurate after 3 - 4 months after exposure.

-=clouseau=-

very helpful. thank you!