There are three different types of tests for herpes in men that are generally administered by physicians, but the blood test is almost universally considered to be the most accurate. Not only do blood tests produce correct positive or negative diagnoses with 97% accuracy, but they offer the major advantage of being available even to those men who are not exhibiting herpes symptoms (i.e., not experiencing an outbreak) at the time of the test.
Blood Tests for Herpes in Men vs. The Other Tests
The biggest difference between blood tests for herpes in men, and the other two main types of testing (the polymerase chain reaction test, and viral culture swabs) is that blood tests look for antibodies against the virus, while the other tests look for the virus itself. While this may make the blood test sound counter-intuitive to the goal of identifying a viral infection, consider the fact that the amount of HSV-1 and HSV-2 virus found in sores can vary greatly, or even be completely absent from sores that have already begun to heal.
By locating the antibodies against the two most-prevalent forms of herpes in men, the blood test is virtually guaranteed to provide an accurate diagnosis of whether or not the patient is infected. Unfortunately, where this approach comes up short against the viral culture swab and PCR test, is that the antibodies to both forms of herpes are indistinguishable. Therefore, a blood test will not be able to tell you whether you have contracted HSV-1, or HSV-2.
Taking A Blood Test - What To Expect
A large number of physicians prefer not to conduct blood tests for herpes, unless the patient insists on this particular approach. Furthermore, because it takes some time for antibodies to form in the body, very few health care providers will administer a blood test unless a minimum of 12 weeks has passed since the patient believes they first became infected. Given these factors, you will probably have to specifically request a blood test during your office visit.
The blood test for herpes in men is just like any other blood test you've probably taken during your life. You'll sit down with a nurse, who will draw the sample through a needle, and then send it to the lab. After the laboratory has completed its testing (usually somewhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks later), you'll be notified by your doctor's office at which point you'll be able to discuss the next step - if any are required.
Blood Tests for Herpes in Men vs. The Other Tests
The biggest difference between blood tests for herpes in men, and the other two main types of testing (the polymerase chain reaction test, and viral culture swabs) is that blood tests look for antibodies against the virus, while the other tests look for the virus itself. While this may make the blood test sound counter-intuitive to the goal of identifying a viral infection, consider the fact that the amount of HSV-1 and HSV-2 virus found in sores can vary greatly, or even be completely absent from sores that have already begun to heal.
By locating the antibodies against the two most-prevalent forms of herpes in men, the blood test is virtually guaranteed to provide an accurate diagnosis of whether or not the patient is infected. Unfortunately, where this approach comes up short against the viral culture swab and PCR test, is that the antibodies to both forms of herpes are indistinguishable. Therefore, a blood test will not be able to tell you whether you have contracted HSV-1, or HSV-2.
Taking A Blood Test - What To Expect
A large number of physicians prefer not to conduct blood tests for herpes, unless the patient insists on this particular approach. Furthermore, because it takes some time for antibodies to form in the body, very few health care providers will administer a blood test unless a minimum of 12 weeks has passed since the patient believes they first became infected. Given these factors, you will probably have to specifically request a blood test during your office visit.
The blood test for herpes in men is just like any other blood test you've probably taken during your life. You'll sit down with a nurse, who will draw the sample through a needle, and then send it to the lab. After the laboratory has completed its testing (usually somewhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks later), you'll be notified by your doctor's office at which point you'll be able to discuss the next step - if any are required.
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