Tests for Herpes
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Why Is Testing Important?
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According to the Mayo Clinic, one in five people has genital herpes, making a sexual encounter with one of them likely if you're active with more than one partner. However, more than 90 percent of people don't even know that they have herpes, and 70 percent of cases of genital herpes are spread when the infected person noticed no symptoms. Herpes can be transmitted to uninfected partners through "asymptomatic shedding" of the virus through small breaks in the skin. So if you suspect that you may have been exposed to herpes, you might not even know it. In absence of any physical symptoms, such as an obvious outbreak of lesions in the genital area, the only way to confirm if you are infected with the herpes simplex virus is through medical testing.
Taking a Culture
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It's difficult for a doctor to make a diagnosis of herpes simply by examining a sore, says the Mayo Clinic. Some sores look like a small crack in the skin or may simply be an itchy patch on the patient's skin, and sometimes a lesion that looks like a herpes sore really isn't herpes. A culture or swab is sometimes taken of a sore, but these tend to give a high rate of false negative results--meaning they report that the sore is not caused by herpes when in fact it is.
Polymerase Chain Reaction Test
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A more thorough way to test for herpes is by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Cells or fluid can be taken from a sore and examined for the presence of the genetic material of the herpes virus. Sometimes spinal fluid is drawn and tested. A PCR test is four times as sensitive to the presence of the herpes virus than a regular culture and can even determine if the infection is caused by the herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) virus or herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) virus.
Blood Testing
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The presence of the herpes virus can also be identified through blood testing, which shows if a patient has developed antibodies to the virus. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, because these antibodies take time to develop, it's important to wait three to four months after suspected exposure before using this method of testing. Some of the newer methods of blood testing can also identify if an infection is caused by HSV-2 or HSV-1.
Preparing for Your Appointment
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Before your doctor's appointment, make sure you ask if there's any specific procedure that you need to follow in advance. Take notes of your symptoms, as well as when you began to notice them and how long they lasted. Also write down any medications, vitamins and supplements you may be using. You may also want to write down a list of question for your physician, should you be diagnosed with herpes. Some of the things that you may want to know is if there is a generic version of the antiviral drug she prescribes, as these are less costly. You may also want to ask if circumstances warrant testing your sexual partners, as well as ways to avoid transmitting herpes to others.
What To Expect at Your Appointment
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When you go to see a doctor for herpes testing, be prepared for her to ask personal questions. You'll be asked when you began experiencing symptoms of herpes and what types of symptoms you noticed. But your doctor will also ask you if you have a new sexual partner or many sexual partners, as well as if you practice safe sex (condom use). Your doctor may recommend that you be tested for other sexually-transmitted diseases in addition to herpes.
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