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Genital Herpes Relief >> Herpes FAQs
How is genital herpes diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by your care-giver recognizing changes seen on the skin, then by performing a viral test to confirm the diagnosis as recommended. Unfortunately HSV infections can be hard to diagnose. Sometimes the lesions are not typical or even obvious. Many patients see their care-giver after the lesions have disappeared. A swab of your lesion can be taken in the first 1-2 days and that fluid tested (a viral culture) to make the diagnosis. There are blood tests that can be done that will confirm that you have had the infection. This test is called type specific serology for HSV. It is useful if there is a suspicion that you may have HSV without an outbreak, if you are planning to get pregnant, if you are at risk of acquiring HIV or if you have a new sexual partner.
Being tested for HSV is important if you are having recurrent symptoms in the genital area, if you are at risk of infection and to make sure you that will not infect your partner.
