Swab Tests For The Worried?

[ScarletLettter]

I see a lot of people worried about Herpes (me included) who are several weeks down the road from an encounter and are having burning/stinging sensations, sore back, aching stomach, leg pain, tingling of the genitals, etc.  Yet, there are no lesions.

So, my question is......if it is really too soon to have a conclusive antibody test, and the individual "thinks" the symptoms are signs of prodrome, and it is apparently proven that viral shedding is not only possible but elevated during early infection.....why can't a swab be taken of the genitals (even without blisters) and tested for the virus (PCR)?  A negative test would seem to clarify that the symptoms are not herpes related.  That would maybe relieve the anxiety that is causing the symptoms right?

???

[gracefromHHP]

prodromal symptoms only last a day or two before obvious lesions. they aren't something you would walk around with for weeks.   if you are having symptoms non-stop for more than a few days without obvious lesions appearing, it's not a herpes issue going on.

I also totally agree that random pcr swabs aren't worthwhile either.  

be seen at least monthly if you are having these sorts of symptoms. make sure that they are testing you for other infections too. also try to keep yourself busy - if you notice symptoms go away when you are busy and not thinking about your genitals, that usually is a good sign that it's anxiety related.

grace

[ScarletLettter]

All of us think we're having prodrome when we are having these symptoms and are just not showing classis lesions.  The general theory is that it's most likely our anxiety that is causing the pristine like symptoms.

If the virus is shedding during prodrome, it seems a negative test during our "symptoms" would serve to show we are not really having prodrome at all.  I know it's not absolute as people have actual sores swabbed after scabbing that picks up no virus.  However it seems prodrome=shedding=possitive swab.  A negative swab=negative shedding=negative prodrome=it's in your head.

[castello80]

A PCR swab can be taken any time; you don't have to have symptoms. However, each PCR swab costs quite a bit of money and if you're going in to get your genitals swabbed everyday then it could lead to spending close to $1,000, maybe more. A negative PCR without symptoms is not conclusive since the virus is only active so many days out of the year. For instance, if you went in to get a PCR swab today without obvious lesions and it came back negative, it wouldn't be conclusive.

If you do develop symptoms then be seen immediately and have them swabbed. To arrive at a conclusive answer on whether or not you have HSV-1 or HSV-2, we recommend testing three months post exposure with an iGg type specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 blood test (separate, not combined).