A PCR herpes test is conducted when someone is having herpes outbreaks. Generally, there are two approaches to diagnosing herpes, either through laboratory herpes tests or through herpes physical examination and herpes history. In a laboratory herpes test, the herpes viruses are detected directly from infected skin lesions by herpes. A swab is rubbed over the sore area infected by herpes. Then it is sent for one of several swab herpes tests called culture, FA, or PCR test. Most governments encourages laboratory herpes test to be utilized to establish the herpes diagnosis. Herpes physical examination and herpes history on the other hand are the least reliable means of diagnosing herpes.

Testing for the herpes virus directly from the skin is useful if genital herpes symptoms are present during the time while the doctor is examining the genital area. Diagnosing herpes by just looking at a lesion or sore does not give accurate herpes diagnosis because many other infections or irritations can look just like herpes. As such, and because Herpes Simplex Virus is a chronic disease, confirming the diagnosis of herpes with a laboratory herpes test is recommended by almost all medical authorities.

Since PCR herpes test is more sensitive than herpes culture or cytology, the herpes virus can be detected for a longer period both before and after herpes outbreaks. The false negative rate of culture detection starts to rise dramatically 48 to 72 hours after herpes outbreaks. Furthermore, Herpes cultures require a separate collection that must be refrigerated. PCR herpes tests are performed directly from the vials, and can be kept at room temperature.
PCR herpes testing is the most accurate method for diagnosing herpes. PCR techniques make many copies of the viral genetic material either DNA or RNA in a short time so that even tiny amounts of herpes virus are sufficient for a positive test. This enables PCR herpes test to accurately and reliably diagnose herpes. For the PCR herpes test only a very short time period is needed, about 4 hours, once the individual has arrived for a herpes test. PCR herpes tests can also tell if herpes SV-1 or herpes SV-2 is present. PCR is the only herpes test sensitive enough to find herpes in a lesion that does not contain much herpes virus. This method provides a 23% increase in sensitivity and 100% specificity at correlation to viral culture. It can be done on cells or fluid from a sore or on blood or on other fluid such as the person’s spinal fluid. The PCR test is not commonly done on the skin lesions themselves but it is best for testing spinal fluid.

A research study has been made to show the accuracy of the PCR herpes test. Of over 36,000 individual who were tested by both herpes culture and PCR herpes test, 3377 were positive by PCR herpes test but negative by herpes culture. A lot of the individuals that were positive only by PCR herpes test were collected in warmer summer months. Warm transport conditions can harm the herpes virus so that it can’t infect herpes culture cells but PCR herpes tests are unaffected. This is another reason PCR herpes test is more accurate than herpes viral culture test.

Despite the appealing advantages of PCR herpes testing, it is not widely available and more expensive than herpes culture or FA herpes tests. PCR is most likely to be more accurate than other herpes tests. The chance of missing herpes in a lesion by herpes culture or FA herpes test is much higher than with PCR. If PCR herpes test is not affordable or available to you, a type specific serology herpes blood test is good alternative to see if you have been infected with herpes SV-1 or herpes SV-2.
Individual who think they have herpes, should consider having a PCR herpes test if available to have an accurate test.

Herpes test are done to find the herpes simplex virus (HSV). A herpes simplex virus infection can cause small, painful sores that look like blisters on the skin or the tissue lining (mucous membrane) of the throat, nose, mouth, urethra, rectum and vagina. A herpes infection may cause only a single outbreak of herpes sores, but in many cases the person will have many more herpes outbreaks.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: Herpes Simplex type 1 which causes herpes cold sores also called fever herpes blisters on the lips. Herpes Simplex type 1 is generally spread by kissing or by sharing eating utensils such as spoons or forks when herpes sores are present. Herpes Simplex type 1 can also cause herpes sores around the genital area.

The second type of herpes simplex virus is the herpes simplex type 2 which causes herpes sores in the genital area (genital herpes), such as on or around the vagina or penis. Herpes simplex type 2 also causes the herpes infection seen in babies who are delivered vaginally in women who have genital herpes. Herpes simplex type 2 is generally spread by sexual contact. Herpes simplex type 2 can also sometimes cause mouth sores.
In rare cases, herpes simplex virus can infect other parts of the body such as the eyes, ocular herpes, and the brain, herpes encephalitis.

Tests for herpes simplex virus are most often done only for sores in the genital area. In rare cases, the test may be done using other types of samples, such as spinal fluid, blood, urine, or tears. To see whether sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus, different types of herpes tests may be done.

Herpes blood tests are generally used in cases where there are no visible herpes symptoms present. A herpes blood test works by detecting the presence of herpes antibodies. There is a possibility that the virus will not show up in a blood test and a positive result is not always indicative that a person has genital herpes.
Firstly, after the first exposure to herpes, a person may take several weeks to develop the antibodies that the tests look for. Usually, it takes two weeks to three months after exposure to herpes for antibodies to appear in the blood. Some herpes blood tests detect antibodies sooner than others. However, once antibodies are found they remain in the body for life. Also, antibodies may disappear with time, especially if the person has infrequent recurrences of herpes.
Secondly, blood tests cannot tell the difference between the two types of herpes virus, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. For this reason, anyone seeking an accurate diagnosis of genital herpes must be sure to get a “type-specific” serologic test, which can accurately distinguish herpes simplex type 1 from herpes simplex type 2 antibodies. Most commercially available kit assays currently cannot make this distinction despite their claims. It should also be taken note that the herpes blood test cannot tell: which part of your body is infected (lips or genitals), whether you will develop symptoms of herpes or if your symptoms are due to herpes.

Blood tests can find antibodies that are made by the immune system to fight a herpes infection. Antibody tests are sometimes done but are not as accurate as a viral culture at finding the cause of a specific sore or ulcer. Antibody tests cannot tell the difference between a current active herpes infection and a herpes infection that occurred in the past. Because antibodies take time to develop after the first infection, you may not have a positive antibody test if you have just recently been infected. Some blood tests can tell the difference between Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus 2.
It is thought that about half of adults in the United States likely have herpes antibodies.