How is herpes diagnosed?

Herpes is typically diagnosed based on:

Medical history and symptoms: Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, including when they started, where on your body they appear, and if you have any additional symptoms like fever or fatigue.

Physical examination: Your healthcare provider will examine the affected areas of your skin or genitals to look for signs of herpes, such as blisters, ulcers, or scabs.

Viral cultures: In some cases, your healthcare provider may order a viral culture to confirm the diagnosis of herpes. A viral culture involves collecting a sample of the affected skin or tissue and testing it in a laboratory to identify the specific virus responsible for the infection.

Blood tests: Blood tests can detect antibodies to the herpes virus, indicating exposure to the virus. However, blood tests are not routinely used to diagnose initial herpes infections because they may not be able to distinguish between active infection and past exposure.