Tests For Genital Herpes
Tests for genital herpes are performed to detect the presence of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). There are different methods to detect HSV presence and to determine whether the herpes simplex virus or other types of viruses are causing sores. The most common types of tests are viral culture, serology, PCR and others. Tests for herpes simplex virus detection are usually done if there are sores in the genital area. In rare cases, the test may be done using other types of samples, such as spinal fluid, blood, urine, or tears.
Other tests for genital herpes detection are the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and antibody test. PCR test involves taking out a cell or fluid from a sore, from the blood or spinal fluids. PCR detects the genetic material or DNA of the HSV virus and can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2.
The PCR testing using the spinal fluid cases maybe used if the virus causes infection in or around the brain. Antibody or blood test on the other hand can detect antibodies that are built up by the immune system to fight a herpes infection. Antibody tests are occasionally done but are not as accurate as a viral culture at identifying the cause of a specific sore or ulcer. The only problem is that blood test cannot tell between a current, active herpes infection and a past infection. After the initial infection, antibodies take time to develop and if you got infection recently, the result of the blood test will not show positive antibody. Similar to PCR, blood tests can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Tests for genital herpes are usually done only for sores in the genital are however if it requires the test may be done using other types of samples, such as spinal fluid, blood, urine, or tears. It is estimated that 50- 80 percent of adults in the United States have cold sores (HSV-1) and 20 percent have genital herpes (HSV-2.). There’s no cure for a herpes infection and once the person becomes infected with HSV, the virus remains in the body for life. It lays dormant in the nerve cell, and at some point in time will reactivate causing recurrent outbreaks. Outbreaks are characterized by the presence of sores. Recurring infections occurred because the virus is triggered by stress, fatigue, excessive exposure to heat or sunlight, or another disease that compromises the body’s immune system.





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