How is genital herpes diagnosed?
If you know you’ve been exposed to the genital herpes virus and you have the classic signs (e.g., painful, clustered blisters on top of red swollen skin), your doctor may make the diagnosis based on this alone. However, in someone who does not have these signs or the diagnosis is uncertain, there are two types of tests that can be used. A culture test looks for the presence of genital herpes in cells taken from a sore. A blood test is used to measure the body’s immune response (antibodies) against the genital herpes virus.
Herpes can be diagnosed by examination and visual inspection of the lesions if the outbreak is typical (multiple painful genital blisters or ulcers, but the clinical diagnosis should be confirmed by laboratory testing. There are three main laboratory methods to diagnose the virus: culture, PCR, and blood tests for antibodies, although false negative results are possible. Genital herpes may be difficult to detect between outbreaks. It is difficult to diagnose genital herpes by examination alone. Many infected persons do not have classic lesions (painful blisters and ulcers). Further, it is impossible to tell whether a lesion is caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2 by inspection. Since recurrences and subclinical/asymptomatic shedding are much less frequent for HSV-1 than for HSV-2, it is important to determine the type of HSV infection. A swab of an open lesion is needed for culture or PCR. Typing of HSV-1 or HSV-2 may be done with culture or PCR. The specimen must contain active herpes virus or it
Some herpes facts “People who have genital herpes can have sex. They should avoid sexual contact if they have symptoms. Wearing condoms helps prevent passing it on.” “More than 50% of the population of the USA has herpes. Most of them don’t know it.” “Receiving oral sex from somebody who has cold sores around their mouth significantly raises the risk of becoming infected.” “You cannot get genital herpes from a toilet seat.” “Genital herpes can spread from one part of your body to another.” “If you never have symptoms, this does not mean you do not have genital herpes.” “Stress can trigger a recurrence of symptoms.” “People who have genital herpes are more susceptible to HIV.” “Genital herpes cannot make you sterile.
