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What does it mean if I have a lip sore and my HSV antibody test reported as indeterminate?

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Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have had a sore in my inner lips since morning. I took a herpes antibody test, but the result came as indeterminate.

Kindly help.
Answered by Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath did his MBBS and specialization in M.D (Microbiology) , D.N.B (Microbiology) and M.N.A.M.S (Microbiology) which deals with clinical laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases of microbial origin such as bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic etiology, and certain autoimmune diseases. He secured All India First Rank in the Broad Speciality D.N.B Degree examination in the speciality of Microbiology - June 2020 session and awarded President NBEMS Gold Medal for his outstanding academic achievement . He obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases from Medvarsity, accredited by the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has completed his one-year senior residency in Clinical Microbiology and currently working as Consultant Microbiologist at various Hospitals and as Assistant Professor in a Chennai-based Medical College Hospital and Research Institute. He has a particular interest in Infectious diseases in General Practice.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I acknowledge the test report and image attached with this query (attachments removed to protect the patient’s identity).

The blood investigations show indeterminate herpes simplex IgM (immunoglobulin M) antibody. I suggest you repeat the test to confirm the results. Do not worry even if the result is positive, as it is a self-limiting infection that often heals in few days.

Mostly herpes blisters will not appear as a single lesion; instead, it seems as multiple small blisters coalescing together. For now, keep the area clean, do not poke the blisters, and stay hydrated. It will settle down within seven to ten days.

Based on the clinical examination, the decision to start oral antivirals like Acyclovir will be made.

Take care.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At October 15, 2021
Reviewed At November 22, 2023

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath did his MBBS and specialization in M.D (Microbiology) , D.N.B (Microbiology) and M.N.A.M.S (Microbiology) which deals with clinical laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases of microbial origin such as bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic etiology, and certain autoimmune diseases. He secured All India First Rank in the Broad Speciality D.N.B Degree examination in the speciality of Microbiology - June 2020 session and awarded President NBEMS Gold Medal for his outstanding academic achievement . He obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases from Medvarsity, accredited by the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has completed his one-year senior residency in Clinical Microbiology and currently working as Consultant Microbiologist at various Hospitals and as Assistant Professor in a Chennai-based Medical College Hospital and Research Institute. He has a particular interest in Infectious diseases in General Practice.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath
Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath

Infectious Diseases

Consult this doctor

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath did his MBBS and specialization in M.D (Microbiology) , D.N.B (Microbiology) and M.N.A.M.S (Microbiology) which deals with clinical laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases of microbial origin such as bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic etiology, and certain autoimmune diseases. He secured All India First Rank in the Broad Speciality D.N.B Degree examination in the speciality of Microbiology - June 2020 session and awarded President NBEMS Gold Medal for his outstanding academic achievement . He obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases from Medvarsity, accredited by the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has completed his one-year senior residency in Clinical Microbiology and currently working as Consultant Microbiologist at various Hospitals and as Assistant Professor in a Chennai-based Medical College Hospital and Research Institute. He has a particular interest in Infectious diseases in General Practice.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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