Conflicting Blood Test Results for Herpes: A Patient's Dilemma - Urology

Blood test report issues?

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Dr.
Hsu: Thank you for your time; I appreciate it.
About five to six months ago, after having sexual relations, I experienced sudden pain in my scrotal skin two months later (I checked myself at that time but couldn't find anything unusual).
I then visited a urologist, who asked if I had engaged in sexual activity, to which I replied yes.
The doctor suggested that blood tests are the most accurate way to check for any infections.
After having blood drawn that day, I had to wait a week for the results, so I went to a medical laboratory the next day for another blood test.
Three days later, the lab report indicated the presence of herpes.
However, four days later, the clinic's report came back normal.
The doctor explained that my scrotal skin issues might be due to friction causing skin inflammation (I had indeed been jogging during that time, but I did not mention this to the doctor).
I showed the medical laboratory's report to the doctor, who explained that my clinical symptoms did not resemble herpes.
He stated that herpes can be diagnosed not only through blood tests but also through clinical examination.
He advised me not to self-diagnose based solely on lab results, as my symptoms did not appear to be herpes.

Later, I returned to the original medical laboratory and requested another screening.
Three days later, the report still indicated herpes.
I then went directly to the urology department at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU).
After reviewing the report and examining me, the doctor also stated that my symptoms did not resemble herpes and conducted another blood test (note: I am unsure if both IgM and IgG were tested).
The doctor informed me that I did not have an infection.
Given the hospital's findings and the opinions of both the urology clinic and the KMU urologist, who all stated that my symptoms did not resemble herpes, I also visited Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's urology department.
Although they did not conduct blood tests, the doctor there also said it did not look like herpes, suggesting that my scrotal skin issues might be dermatitis or eczema.

Eventually, I consulted a dermatologist, and my scrotal skin condition improved.
The dermatologist did not mention herpes either (I did not ask the dermatologist, who only suggested it might be contact dermatitis).
After that, I thought that since I had seen urologists and dermatologists, and none of them diagnosed me with herpes, it might just be that different labs have varying testing methods, and perhaps I am indeed healthy, as all the doctors indicated that my symptoms did not appear to be herpes.
During this time, some doctors mentioned that the data is not inaccurate but that different labs can have discrepancies.
They advised me not to focus too much on the report results, as it seemed to them that my symptoms were just general skin issues and not herpes.
So, I relaxed and stopped worrying about it.
Currently, after four months (just a few weeks ago), I suddenly developed many rashes on my groin, and my penis became itchy, leading me to scratch it until the skin broke (there are two bumps on the broken skin, but I am unsure if they are blisters; I tried to squeeze them but couldn't get anything out.
The surrounding skin is red, and occasionally it oozes serous fluid.
It does not hurt unless I touch the broken area, but it feels itchy.
I only feel slight pain when scratching or when walking causes friction.
The appearance of the broken skin on my penis is quite different from images of herpes online).
I visited a different urology clinic this time (note: I have not seen any unlicensed practitioners; all the clinics I visited are covered by health insurance, and I verified that the doctors are all from hospitals.
I have not engaged in sexual activity since then).
The results from this clinic indicated that the doctor (who is from a veteran's hospital) did not provide much information, only prescribing some topical medications.
While I was there, I thought about getting another blood test, considering the possibility of a window period, as it had been five to six months since my last test.
I figured the results should be more definitive this time.
The next day, I went to a different medical laboratory for testing (unlike the last one).

The reports came back, and the clinic indicated herpes, while the medical laboratory showed everything was normal.
I then went to Kaohsiung City United Hospital's urology department, KMU's infectious disease department, and another urology clinic in Kaohsiung (run by a KMU doctor).
After showing them my clinical symptoms, they all told me it did not look like herpes and that I was overthinking it.
The infectious disease department at KMU did not conduct a clinical examination but mentioned that results can vary between labs.
They also said I did not exhibit herpes symptoms and advised me not to focus on the data.
The infectious disease doctor explained that when tests are done simultaneously, if one shows positive and the other negative, the negative result is usually more reliable.

Although every doctor I consulted said my symptoms did not resemble herpes, I am still concerned about the report data (currently, I have had two tests from the same laboratory showing positive for herpes, one test from a urology clinic showing positive, one from KMU showing negative, and another laboratory showing negative, making it three positive and three negative results).
However, all the doctors I consulted, whether from clinics or hospitals, stated that my symptoms did not resemble herpes and were likely just general skin issues.
This includes the doctor from the clinic that reported positive results, who, after reviewing my laboratory report, only suggested observation and did not confirm herpes (note: before the blood test results came out, during my first visit, he did not say it was herpes, even though every doctor mentioned that my symptoms did not resemble herpes, just skin issues).

With the test results being three positive and three negative, I am left wondering whether I have herpes.
Although every doctor says it does not seem like it, the test results are conflicting.
Should I trust the doctors or the reports? Ultimately, I understand that herpes cannot be completely cured; it remains in the body and can re-emerge when the immune system is compromised.
I just want to know if I have contracted the herpes virus.
Dr.
Hsu, is there a reliable method to confirm whether I have it or not? If I do have the herpes virus, I want to know so I can take precautions against future outbreaks.
I also do not want to unknowingly transmit it to my partner, and of course, I hope I am healthy.
I know that the herpes virus can be transmitted regardless of whether symptoms are present, which is why I want to confirm my status.
Dr.
Hsu, which testing method is the most accurate? I am willing to undergo any type of test.
I hope you can help me resolve this long-standing issue, as it has been a significant source of distress for me.
Thank you again for your patience in reading this lengthy message.

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qq, 50~59 year old female. Ask Date: 2012/02/18