Generally, we are clinicians don't touch the swab end of the stick with our hands. I don't see how handling the stick without gloves presents any risk at all of contaminating the swab process. You are most definitely being paranoid.
Terri
do you have fish like smell?
Hi Terri,
Had symptoms appear recently in the last couple days. I did have a PCR swab test done today and a skin biopsy from a dermatologist.
I was wondering when doctors do a PCR swab (a little over 48 hours, swabs was very thorough), should they normally wear gloves when holding the end of the handle?
For instance, in cases when the doctor has hsv-1 on their mouths, if they accidently touch their mouth and then the handle of the swab, it might contaminate it with small traces of HSV-1 DNA. Since PCR's are highly specific, then it might possibly be picked up. A very, very low chance of happening, but i would think wearing gloves would eliminate this potential risk. I'm probably being over paranoid, but would be interested to get your take on this.
It's tough, I won't lie to you. Very often having a negative western blot helps with that acceptance but for others, they just keep worrying they have herpes, even in the face of huge evidence that they do not.
Terri
The last PCR which the doctor did on April 2014 was quite thorough. I should have mentioned, he did not think it was HSV, thought it was some other skin condition prescribed me a cream, and anti fungal cream (Daktarin). Which did help.
I'm finding it challenging to accept it and move on. I had no hesitation back in Jan 2013. Probably because i didn't do any research on this online and trusted the diagnosis which was bacteria.
I may need to look into professional counselling. Any advice from past patients/experiences on how to get over this mentally?
Hi Warrem, yes all blood tests where negative for both hsv2 and hsv1. I've had two blood tests one year apart and 2 and 3 years after exposure. In total i had 2 blood tests and 3 PCRs all negative for HSV. From what i recall i have never had a cold sore, and have been tested for HSV1 which came back negative.
When the lesions showed up it was at least 3-4 days on average, for everytime i had a pcr done.
Well, I can see why you are wondering about herpes. There are certainly breaks in the skin that are worrisome, but if these are PCR negative, this suggests that it is something else entirely. Men you are uncircumcised and who have high levels of blood sugar are particularly vulnerable to getting a fungal infection under the foreskin and also bacterial infections, to a lesser degree.
Balanitis just describes the condition of inflammation of the head of the penis, in general. It doesn't describe an organism that might be causing is, though that is usually fungal.
So your HSV 2 antibody test was negative? and have you ever had a cold sore in your lifetime? How soon after these lesions showed up did you get a PCR swab test done?
Terri
By the way i'm from Australia.
I have images of each time i had a outbreak. Each of these were PCR tested.
Jan 2013.
http://s24.postimg.org/x7zeccwfp/2013_01_19_21_15_30_673.jpg
Jan 2014.
http://s28.postimg.org/8xt4kw5y5/2013_12_29_18_32_14_384.jpg
April 2014
http://s4.postimg.org/6x41gfnv0/2014_03_29_12_17_47_660.jpg