Is there a test to detect herpes?

There are tests available for herpes, but sometimes they turn up negative. When there is an obvious discharge or an open sore, a sample of the fluid can be looked under an electron microscope. The test does require extensive preparation of the sample to be looked at under the microscope. In many cases, the test does end up as a negative. Checking for a virus under a microscope is not routine practice.

There is a blood test whereby one can check for antibodies to the virus. When the herpes virus infection is acute, the body’s immune system will react by making antibodies which react towards the virus. These antibodies can be checked in blood.

The blood test is most sensitive when there is an active infection present. When the herpes infection disappears, the antibody levels fall off and are sometimes not measurable. If the blood tests reveals the presence of antibodies, than it means you may have either oral or genital herpes. If the is negative, it simply means that you may have the virus, but the levels of antibody are too small to be detected. In other words you do not have an acute infection at the moment.

Diagnosis of Venereal Warts

When the warts are large, they are easy to diagnose. Sometimes, however, warts can be small and may be mistaken for a skin tag or scar. Some physicians do apply acetic acid (vinegar like solution) to the genitals. This immediately whitens the warts and one can view the warty like structure under a microscope. It is extremely rare for a wart to be cut out for diagnosis.

For women, when a wart is identified, several other tests are also important. Because Warts are associated with the human Papilloma virus and known to cause cervical cancer, women need a pap test.

The Pap test is a fancy word for taking scrapings (swabs) from the cervix and looking at them underneath a microscope. Pap tests are generally recommended for all women within 3 years after having started sex or at the age of 21-whichever comes first. After the age of 30, pap tests are infrequent if one has had all previous tests which were normal.

Women who have venereal warts need to have a pap tests every 3-6 months depending on the severity of changes in the cervix.

Recurrent Herpes of the mouth part 2

Recurrence

A number of individual keep on getting recurrent herpes sores. As to why some individuals get it and some do not, is a medical mystery. But we do know that some conditions can increase the chance of recurrence. The recurrence may be in the same location around the mouth or in a different site. The recurrence rate is variable. There may be one recurrence a month, or several a month or once a year.

Secondary herpes is due to a local reactivation of the virus that produces a cold sore. Unlike the primary infection, recurrent herpes sores are not as painful. Most individuals claim that the pain is much less severe and tolerable. However, the unsightly cosmetic nature is no different compared to the first episode.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of herpetic sores requires a simple physical examination. No other blood work or x rays are required. In the very rare case, small amount of fluid may be obtained to confirm the diagnosis. In the era of modern medicine, where money factors a lot into a physician’s income, unnecessary testing is common.

This may include testing the blood for antibodies- redundant tests which do not affect therapy.Confirmation of the herpes virus may be of an issue in hospitalized patients who are sick. For the average individual, a simple physical exam will suffice.