Thursday, October 4, 2012

Herpes Blood Test

One in every five people in the United States are tested positive for HSV that causes herpes. Genital herpes testing is a vital step to take if you even suspect that you may have contacted the disease, whether you are experiencing symptoms or not. You need an experienced  doctor to diagnose genital herpes with certainty. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections can also be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test.

A person must never assume that he has STDs or herpes if he/she has not been tested yet.  Inaccurate diagnosis, either  a false positive or negative can have far reaching consequences. 

If you are pregnant and going to deliver a baby and  if the virus is shedding during labor, there is 50% chance of your baby acquiring neonatal herpes. If you engage in sex, you're  responsible not only to yourself, but also to your partners to make sure that you are not spreading disease.It's important that you get a herpes test fast.

If primary infection occurred during pregnancy, this presents the highest risk of transferring the virus to the baby during vaginal birth. As a safety precaution, women infected during the second or third trimester of pregnancy should seriously consider opting for a Cesarean delivery. So, if you even slightly suspect that you might have an infection get yourself tested. After your doctor determines they feel you may have herpes, they can take a sample from the infected area and send it in to a laboratory.  To have your blood tested for herpes, you must wait at least 12 weeks after your suspected infection. Genital herpes can be caused by either herpes type 1 or type 2, so other testing besides a visual diagnosis is necessary to determine the exact type of herpes virus that you have. For your test you can either  go for a herpes lab test in your area or  you can try a herpes home test kit. If found positive for HSV2, get prepared to have a  Cesarean delivery.

Abstain from sex by all means  if  you or your partner has a herpes outbreak. Use a condom during  anal, oral, vaginal sex in order to reduce the chances of transmission. Unless you have specifically asked for a type-specific blood test for herpes such as the Western Blot test you have probably never had an accurate herpes test. There is tons of information, wild rumors and stories out there about herpes, its symptoms and the people that have the disease, but very little about the important topic of genital herpes testing. This test finds markers (called antigens) on the surface of cells infected with the herpes virus. Although the mothers-to-be are not at risk, the unborn baby may be in danger.


Most people who get infected with herpes do not even know that they have the infection. There are ways to manage outbreaks and ways to protect from transmitting the virus. If you want to visit a doctor, they can usually do a visual inspection to determine whether you do in fact have the virus or not.But, for herpes a blood test can mostly give you a conclusive result. It can detect HSV antibodies even though no visible symptoms are present.

The most accurate test for Genital herpes is a blood test. In case of a culture test, a small quantity of  serum, or  fluid  is taken from the suspected sore with a sterile cotton swab. This test is readily available and it has been approved by the FDA. If someone is symptomatic they will show signs of swollen lymph glands, aching muscles, fever, headache, and especially herpes blisters. For the most part, however, when people refer to herpes they are usually referring to either Herpes 1 or Herpes 2.

So, get your herpes blood test done in time and from a correct test lab or with an approved test kit.