Herpes simplex infections are confirmed in numerous ways. Generally, the appearance of the skin eruption is strongly suggestive. Viral cultures and fast assays ( analysis of the crust and / or the fluid inside the blister ) are available. The kind of test for genital herpes that is used depends on what the lesion looks like, or the morphology of the abrasion.

Acute vesicular lesions, or fluid-filled blisters that are newly made, are much more likely to react definitely to the quick test. Older, crusted patches are better diagnosed as having viral culture. A viral culture is the most precise method of finding a genital herpes infection.

Another test for herpes legions is the herpes pathogen antigen detection test. Cells from a fresh sore are scraped off and then smeared onto a microscope slide. This test uncovers markers ( called antigens ) on the surface of cells infected with the herpes pathogen. This test may be done with or in place of a viral culture.

Herpes simplex virus ( HSV ) infections can also be diagnosed between outbreaks by the employment of a blood test.

Blood tests, which notice antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, can be helpful, although the results are not necessarily clear cut. Hpv blood test can find antibodies that are manufactured by the immune system to battle a herpes infection. Antibody tests are sometimes done but aren't as correct as a viral culture at finding the root of a specific sore or ulcer. Antibody tests cannot notice the difference between a current active herpes infection and a herpes infection which happened during the past. Because antibodies take a bit of time to develop after the first infection, someone may not have a positive antibody test if the infection is recent. Some blood tests can tell the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2.

A Polymerase Chain Reaction ( PCR ) test for genital herpes may also be ordered to diagnose HSV. A PCR test can be done on cells or fluid from a sore or on blood or on other fluid, for example spinal liquid. PCR finds the genetic material ( DNA ) of the HSV virus. This test can notice the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2. The PCR test is not frequently done on skin sores, but it's best for testing spinal fluid, for those rare cases in which herpes may cause an infection in or round the brain.

In all cases, it is crucial to get enough viral cells for testing, and careful collection techniques are therefore important. All crusts should be delicately removed or vesicles delicately unroofed. A sterile cotton swab pre-moistened in viral culture preservative is used to swab the base of the vesicle to get a sample for analysis.

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