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Genital herpes

Also known as: Herpes; HSV
Formal name: Herpes simplex virus

The Test

How is it used?

The test is used in two ways:

  • to detect the presence of the herpes simplex virus, and
  • to screen sexually active people.

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When is it requested?

Your doctor may use the test if you have a blister or vesicle on your genitals or mouth. Any sore in the genital area can be a symptom of a serious disease and should be tested.

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What does the test result mean?

A positive culture or nucleic amplification test (NAT) on a scraping from a vesicle indicates an active infection.

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Is there anything else I should know?

There are two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV): 

  • HSV-1 typically causes fever blisters or cold sores on the mouth or face, which is called oral herpes. 
  • HSV-2 typically causes vesicles in the genital area and is called genital herpes.

The type of infection depends on the location of the virus more than on the type of virus - each type can cause either genital or oral infections if that is where it is contracted.

Blood tests are available to diagnose a herpes infection, however, they are not completely reliable for differentiating between HSV1 and HSV2. Most doctors rely on visual inspection of any lesions and a culture or NAT of the scrapings taken from the infected area. If the virus is grown in culture, the herpes virus can be typed using specific antisera for HSV 1 and HSV 2. Nucleic amplification tests generally detect and type HSV 1 and HSV 2 simultaneously.

Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection and can make people who have HIV more infectious to others.

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