Wilmington, DE
A 16-year-old male asked:
How could i get tested for genital herpes and herpes isn't there a blood test and if so is it always correct?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Robert Killiananswered
General Practice 30 years experience
Test: Yes. Herpes is best diagnosed with a blood test. There are two versions, one for an acute exposure and one to see if a previous infection has occurred.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Related questions
A 24-year-old male asked:
Can a blood test be determined if a man has genital herpes?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Yes and no....: A blood test can tell whether someone is infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) and/or HSV2. It doesn't tell if genital or oral; that requir... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Hunter Handsfield commented
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Provided original answer
If you get tested for HSV, be sure to ask only for immunoglobulin g (IgG) testing only. Do not have an IgM test, even though it is routinely offered by many labs. The HSV IgM tests are notoriously unreliable. The results are never useful, and experts in herpes, STDs, and infectious diseases never recomomend or rely on them.
Apr 29, 2015
A 37-year-old member asked:
Is there a blood test which tests for genital herpes? Im pregnant and need to know.
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 51 years experience
May be: A blood test will reveal if you have been exposed to the virus but will not tell if you have active genital infection. Examination by a gynecologist ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
I was diagnosed with genital herpes 10years ago. I stopped taking valtrex (valacyclovir) for 4months and blood test came back negative. Could I not have herpes?
Dr. Peter Baumannanswered
Specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
No herpes: If the blood test is negative for HSV-1 and/ or HSV-2 IgG and IgM, then there was no exposure to these types of herpes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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A 35-year-old male asked:
How long would it take genital herpes after oral sex to show up on a blood test?
Dr. Birendra Tandananswered
Urology 36 years experience
in a few days- within a week
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Nov 24, 2021
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A 34-year-old female asked:
I was recently diagnosed with genital herpes through a blood test. Is it possible that i contracted it orally and only had one breakout in 3 years?
Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 51 years experience
Possible: Please discuss this issue with your doctor at your next visit. God forbid the breakouts become an issue, there is treatment to address that.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 11, 2017
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