How Long Does It Take To Test For Herpes

Can You Get Herpes From Sharing A Drink

If your current sexual partner revealed that they tested positive for herpes, you might question the status of your sexual health. Could you be infected even though you do not have visible genital herpes or cold sores? Can you get herpes from sharing a drink?

While unlikely, it is possible to become infected with herpes after sharing a drink with an infected person. You can also contract and spread the virus even if you do not notice visible sores.

The threat of sexually transmitted diseases it essential to undergo frequent testing if you are sexually active. Contact us at Rapid STD Testing for a rapid STD test today.

When Should I Get A Genital Or Oral Herpes Test

Testing for the viruses that cause genital and oral herpes may be ordered when a patient develops signs and symptoms of a herpes infection. Although many people who contract HSV never notice symptoms, signs of an initial infection appear 2 to 20 days after infection and depend on the type of HSV causing the infection.

When signs and symptoms of an initial infection occur, they may include:

• Small sores on the skin
• Tingling, itching, or burning on the skin
• Fever, headache, or body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

After the initial infection, HSV remains dormant inside of the body. HSV can reactivate throughout a patients life, causing symptoms of genital or oral herpes to reappear. While the trigger for an HSV outbreak is often unknown, potential triggers include a fever, stress, physical trauma, and a suppressed immune system.

Generally, expert organizations do not recommend herpes testing for patients without symptoms. An exception may be made for certain patients, including:

• Patients who have a partner with genital herpes
• Patients seeking a more complete STD test panel, including people with multiple sexual partners
• Babies born to a mother who has HSV

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The Different Types Of Herpes

Herpes, or the herpes simplex virus, is a highly contagious and common virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. You may become infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 or herpes simplex virus type 2 . Each type of virus causes unique symptoms, so its important to understand their differences.

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Herpes Home Test Vs Herpes Lab Testing

While our herpes test requires a visit to a lab, our testing process is private and no information is shared with your health insurance company or your personal doctor without your consent. That being said, some people would prefer to get a home herpes test . While there are some herpes test kits available on the market, current data suggests that they may not be as accurate as the FDA-approved herpes blood testing labs that we use and are trusted by doctors and medical providers across the country.

In order to prevent exposure to herpes, one must avoid any oral or sexual contact with an infected person. While condoms might help during sexual activity, they are by no means foolproof in preventing transmission of the herpes virus. Once infected, there is no cure for herpes. During periods of active symptoms like blisters, specific antiviral medications can sometimes reduce the duration of the symptoms and intensity of any associated pain.

The CDC estimates that 776,000 people get new herpes infections each year and that 15.7% of people between the ages of 14 and 49 have an HSV-2 infection. For anyone concerned about a herpes exposure or for people in a new relationship, herpes lab testing is a helpful way to determine your status with simple, affordable blood testing.

• A doctor’s lab order*

• A PDF copy of your test results
• Responsive customer service

What To Think About

• Normal test results do not mean you do not have a herpes infection.
• Herpes is often diagnosed by symptoms and by knowing whether the person has had contact with an infected person. Sometimes a test is not needed. A person who has genital herpes needs to learn how to avoid spreading the disease, because the disease is more likely to be spread when he or she has sores. If you have recurrent outbreaks, especially during times of stress or illness, you can also spread the disease.
• You may want to know whether a herpes infection is due to HSV-1 or HSV-2 so you can take steps to prevent or treat outbreaks.
• A genital herpes infection can be spread from a mother to her baby during vaginal delivery. In a newborn, herpes can cause organ failure, brain infection, and death. If active herpes is present near the time of delivery, a caesarean delivery may be done to prevent infecting the baby.

Also Check: How To Stop Herpes Simplex 1 Outbreaks

When Do You Need To Undergo An Std Screening

As soon as someone become sexually active, it is important for them to undergo STD testing every year, especially since there are dozens of STDs out there nowadays. While it can be uncomfortable to ask for a test, its important.

Most STD screenings are done through a blood sample, urine sample or a swab test.

If The Deeper Layer Of The Cornea Is Affected

Treatment is similar to epithelial keratitis . In addition to the antiviral eye ointment or drops, your specialist may add in some steroid eye drops. This helps to reduce inflammation.

Note: steroid eye drops must only be used under close supervision of an eye specialist. He or she will prescribe the correct strength and dose in conjunction with antiviral treatment. If you use steroid eye drops wrongly they can make herpes simplex infections worse!

Antiviral tablets may be used in some cases.

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Reactivation And Recurrent Outbreaks

• Extreme temperatures
• Menstrual periods

The virus then travels to the skin and can cause another, often milder, outbreak. However, reactivation may not cause any symptoms.

Before an outbreak, some people experience prodrome. This is characterized by tingling, itching, or pain in the affected areas before the lesions appear.

What Does Sti Testing Involve

STI tests may look for things like gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV or syphilis. If you dont have symptoms, STI testing involves providing a urine sample and/or a blood sample. The urine can be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The blood sample can be tested for HIV and syphilis.

If you do have symptoms, a clinician will evaluate your symptoms. The clinician may swab the symptomatic areas of your body for testing. They may also ask you to provide a urine sample and/or a blood sample. Although the clinician may be able to say whether or not you have an STI, the test can tell you for sure which STI you have, and will help identify the appropriate treatment.

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How The Test Is Performed

The health care provider collects the sample from a skin sore . This is done usually by rubbing a small cotton swab and on the skin lesion. The sample is sent to a lab. There, it is placed in a special dish . It is then watched to see if the herpes simplex virus , herpes zoster virus, or substances related to the virus grow. Special tests may also be done to determine whether it is HSV type 1 or 2.

How Soon After Unprotected Sex Should You Get Tested

• Gonorrhea: 5 days -2 weeks
• Chlamydia: 12 weeks
• HPV: 3 weeks â 2 months
• Hepatitis: 36 weeks for hepatitis B. 26 weeks for hepatitis C
• Trichomoniasis: 1-4 weeks

• 1033 days for a nucleic acid test.
• 1845 days for an antigen/antibody test.
• 2390 days for an antibody test

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease, make sure that you go to a doctor and get tested as soon as possible. It is also now possible to screen for sexually transmitted diseases from the comfort of home.

At home STD testing is among one the fastest and most convenient ways to accurately and discreetly screen their sexual health without the need to visit a clinical setting. The trickiest part of the process lies in finding out which at home STD test is the best for you.

So, what at home STD tests can you order from your home right now? Most importantly, what is the best at home STD test? Heres our top picks.

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How Can Herpes Be Prevented

Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of transmitting or acquiring genital herpes because herpes virus shedding can occur in areas that are not covered by a condom.25,26

The surest way to avoid transmission of STDs, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested for STDs and is known to be uninfected.

Persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with partners when herpes lesions or other symptoms of herpes are present. It is important to know that even if a person does not have any symptoms, he or she can still infect sex partners. Sex partners of infected persons should be advised that they may become infected and they should use condoms to reduce the risk. Sex partners can seek testing to determine if they are infected with HSV.

Daily treatment with valacyclovir decreases the rate of HSV-2 transmission in discordant, heterosexual couples in which the source partner has a history of genital HSV-2 infection. 27 Such couples should be encouraged to consider suppressive antiviral therapy as part of a strategy to prevent transmission, in addition to consistent condom use and avoidance of sexual activity during recurrences.

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What Is A Pap Smear Test

A Pap smear screens for cervical cancer. The test checks for abnormal cells in the cervix that are cancerous or have the potential to become cancerous. During a Pap smear, your healthcare provider takes cells from your cervix to examine under a microscope for signs of cancer. A Pap smear may also detect certain infections and inflammation. The test is named for an American physician, Dr. George Papanicolaou, who developed the Pap smear.

What is the cervix?

The cervix is the lower part of your uterus that connects to your vaginal canal. Sperm travels through the vaginal canal and cervix to your uterus to fertilize eggs. During pregnancy, the cervix closes to keep the baby in your womb . The cervix opens during childbirth. When you arenât pregnant, your cervix makes mucus to keep infection-causing bacteria out of your body.

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How Can I Prevent Transmitting Herpes

Although latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmitting most STIs by 98 percent, condoms dont prevent herpes transmission. This is because not all herpes sores occur in areas that are covered by a condom.

If youre experiencing an active outbreak, you can

• avoiding sexual activity until symptoms go away
• washing your hands thoroughly and applying medication with cotton swabs to reduce contact with sores

Taking a daily antiviral herpes medication can also help prevent transmission, shorten outbreaks, and manage symptoms.

The Bottom Line: Tests For Herpes Are More Worry Than Theyre Worth

If you do have symptoms, dont fret: If you know your status, youre at an advantage in that you can talk with your doctor and find an antiviral drug that works for you. Medication can curtail the severity of your symptoms, as well as the number of outbreaks you get. Additionally, taking an antiviral daily will greatly reduce your chances of transmitting the virus to someone else. In case you missed it, theres also a very promising new drug for herpes on the horizon, which researchers say could be the most effective one yet.

Take it straight from the pros and dont put yourself through the stress of a herpes blood test if you dont need to. And, whether you have symptoms or not, know that youre not alone if you are herpes-positive.

Read more stories on herpes facts and myths:

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Why Is The Igm Hsv Antibodies Test No Longer Recommended

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Society for Microbiology all recommend the use of the IgG antibodies test over the IgM HSV test.

IgG tests are preferred because:

• For herpes, IgG and IgM antibodies show up around the same time â normally, IgM antibodies appear first.
• IgM antibodies may only last a few months and may not be made after the first outbreak â but IgG antibodies last indefinitely and are made during all outbreaks.
• IgG antibodies can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 and IgM antibodies canât.

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Tips For Managing Herpes Symptoms

The symptoms of herpes can be painful and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are a few things you can easily do at home to help ease these symptoms, including:

• Apply an ice pack or warm compress to the affected area.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen.
• Keep the affected area clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection.
• Avoid tight clothing that may irritate genital sores.
• Dont pop blisters or pick at scabs that form over the sores.
• Ask your healthcare provider to recommend a painkilling cream.

Taking proper care of your skin and overall health while experiencing an outbreak can help to prevent complications like infection and assist in faster healing for your sores. Keep in mind that you are especially contagious during an outbreak, so its best to avoid intimate contact, such as kissing or sex, until the sores heal.

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How Can I Confirm Whether I Have Genital Herpes

Herpes doesnt always cause symptoms, so your best bet is to make an appointment with a healthcare provider. They might be able to diagnose you just by looking at your symptoms.

They may also take a fluid sample from a blister and test it or have you do a blood test.

Youll likely be asked some questions about your sexual history. Its very important that youre honest in your answers. This will help to determine whether you should be tested for any other STIs while youre there.

Remember, theres no cure for herpes. But antiviral medication can help to prevent the virus from reproducing and reduce the number of outbreaks you have. This can also reduce your risk of passing the virus to others.

Common antiviral medications used for herpes include:

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How Does A Herpes Blood Test Work

First of all, a disclaimer here. Im not a doctor nor a scientist. So Ill give you a brief explanation of how a herpes blood test works.Herpes Blood Tests, especially the HerpesSelect tests, are 97%-100% accurate. This is why you should get a blood test for herpes. They can tell you whether you have HSV-1 or HSV-2. They detect for antibodies. After you are infected with herpes, your body will develop antibodies for herpes. Antibodies are proteins that are used in suppressing and fighting the disease. They are always developed if you have the herpes virus in your body.

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Inpatient Vs Outpatient Blood Testing

Location can play a factor into how fast youll get your results back. For example, going to a place where theres an on-site laboratory may get you results more quickly than if your blood has to be sent to another laboratory. Specialty tests for rare conditions often need to be sent to specific laboratories.

According to Regional Medical Laboratory, most in-hospital results can be obtained within three to six hours after taking the blood. Sometimes blood drawn at other, non-hospital facilities can take several days to get results.

If youre hoping to receive blood test results as quickly as possible, some tips to do this can include:

• Ask to have blood drawn at a location where theres an on-site laboratory.
• Ask if there are quick test options for a particular test, such as an H and H for anemia.
• Ask if the results can be sent to you via a web portal.
• Ask if you can wait at the medical facility until results are available.

Sometimes, how quickly the blood tests take depends on how common the blood test is. Blood tests performed more often, such as a CBC or metabolic panel, are usually available more quickly than tests for rare conditions. Fewer laboratories may have the testing available for these conditions, which could slow results.

Are There Any Risks To The Test

There is no known risk to having a swab test.

There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

If you had a lumbar puncture, you may have pain or tenderness in your back where the needle was inserted. You may also get a headache after the procedure.

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Can Herpes Simplex Virus Cause Serious Infections

Yes. The most serious, or life-threatening, HSV infections can occur in newborns who are infected during birth and in individuals with weakened immune systems , such as organ transplant recipients and people with HIV/AIDS. Neonatal herpes is a serious condition, but also very rare. While 25-30% of pregnant women have genital herpes, less than 0.1% of babies born in the U.S. each year get neonatal herpes. This means that most women with genital herpes give birth to healthy babies.

HSV lesions tend to be more extensive and persist longer in newborns and immunocompromised people than in individuals who have healthy immune systems.