Can Herpes Be Detected by a Pap Smear?

A pap smear is used to detect abnormalities in the cells of the cervix. It cannot be used to detect a large number of female reproductive or sexual concerns, and it cannot detect herpes. However, herpes can easily be diagnosed through examination or, in the absence of symptoms, through blood testing.

Pap Smear Uses

• During a pap smear, a physician swabs a small sample of cervical cells. These cells are tested for signals that there may be a pre-cancerous or cancerous condition present.

  Cervical cancer is caused largely by infection with some forms of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Pap smears can provide indirect evidence of the presence of HPV but not of other sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

Examination

• During an outbreak, a physical examination to visually confirm the presence of genital herpes is normally sufficient for diagnosis. If there is doubt about the cause of an infection during an outbreak, a sample from a blister can be used to create a viral culture in the laboratory. A diagnostician might perform a test such as the Tzanck smear, in which a sample from a blister is taken and stained to confirm the presence of a herpetic infection.

Blood Testing

• In the absence of symptoms, herpes can still be diagnosed through blood. A polymerase chain reaction test can directly demonstrate herpes infection; this type of test can also be done on a tissue or spinal fluid sample. An antibody test can show that infection with herpes has occurred, although it should be typed to identify whether the individual has been infected with the oral or genital form of the virus.