A herpes simplex virus infection causes small and painful sores on the skin that had a look of blisters or throats, mouth, rectum, vagina and nose tissue lining. This infection may result in one or...

A herpes simplex virus infection causes small and painful sores on the skin that had a look of blisters or throats, mouth, rectum, vagina and nose tissue lining. This infection may result in one or more outbreaks in form of sores.

Herpes simplex virus is of two types

1. HSV of type 1 that causes fever blisters also known as cold sores on lips. It is spread generally by sharing utensils and kissing, if the sore are there. It may also result in sores around genitals.

2. HSV of type 2 that results in sores around genital like vagina and penis, it is also called as genital herpes. It may be transferred to newly born babies whose mother suffers from genital herpes. It is generally spread by having sexual relations with the person who has herpes around genitals.

Rarely does it affect the other parts of body like brain and eye.

There are five ways of testing herpes in patients. Testing of herpes includes not only detection of virus but its location as well type of virus also as will help in assessing the risk related to transmission. The measures included in herpes testing are as follows

1. Clinical examining the patients

This includes physical examination and history of patients. The doctor inquires about the sexual practices and partners of patients. The doctor will also inquires about the pain, tingling, itching, problem in urination etc. Physical examination of patients will include locating the sores position. During clinical examination the doctors also tries to confirm the herpes by assessing the symptoms but it may not be possible to arrive at a decision as most of the symptoms are shown in other disease also.

2. Viral Culture

The second test is considered to be a valid herpes test. Viral isolation test is effective if active shedding is present on the open sores. This herpes test has the ability to distinguish between the HSV-2 and HSV-1 and als0o to identify the location of viral infection.

3. Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR)

This test is more sensitive then viral culture it also distinguishes between the HSV-2 and HSV-1. The presence of active viral shedding is prerequisite for this test.

4. Non type specific blood test

Non-type specific blood tests in herpes testing are related to ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) test. This herpes testing cannot distinguish between two herpes but could identify that the herpes are present.

5. Type specific blood test

This herpes testing includes Immunoblot test, western blot test. They are free from requirement of active viral shedding.

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