can a culture be taken?

Hi,
Does anyone know if a culture can be taken from a cyst-like bump, rather than a blister or open sore?

[gracefromHHP]

Yes. YOu can pcr anything.

grace

[c_c]

Hi, thanks for your help.

I felt a small lump on the inside of my outer labia while in the shower 9 days ago.

I'm concerned because I had a bump in the same spot about 4 years ago (that I never had checked).  The first bump was very small and on the surface.  The second started out more like a little lump beneath the skin and has been slowly coming to surface.  

Neither bump has been sore, itchy, discolored, or fluid-filled, but I have felt a slight, intermittent tingling sensation in the area.

About fifteen years ago I was involved (on and off for a couple years) with a man who had Herpes.  I never had any kind of obvious reaction, and we were never intimate during an outbreak.

About a year ago I was thinking about becoming sexually involved with a man and went to be tested for STDs.  I told the Dr. about the bump I had before, and she said it was probably just an ingrown hair because there was no pain and no blisters.  She said a blood test would probably show HSV simply because most do; and a culture would have to be taken from a sore to be sure.

I'm wondering:

--Is it too late now to have a culture taken from this lump?  I was waiting to see if a sore or blister would develop, but it seems to be disappearing now.

Also, I'm concerned  about my partner:

--If I'm infected, I'm assuming it's a mild case.  Does this mean that if I have inadvertently passed it along to my partner, he will also have a mild case?  Or could it be more severe?

--How soon will he be able to tell if he has contracted the virus?

--Can he catch it from my saliva?
--Can he catch it from touching the affected area when the bump is gone?

Thank you so much for all your help -- I really appreciate it.  I apologize for asking so many questions....
c

[gracefromHHP]

too late now to culture this if it's been 9 days. You need to get a type specific herpes igg blood test to see what your status is .

grace