Diagnosing Herpes

Your healthcare provider will ask about your health and sexual history. Tell your provider:

  • If you have sores
  • If you had any sores in the past
  • If any of your sexual partners have had herpes
  • If any of your sexual partners have had outbreaks of sores on their genitals, buttocks, or mouth

What a sore looks like

A herpes sore may first look like a small white blister. The fluid inside the blister is filled with the herpes virus. At this stage, the virus sheds easily. This means it can be passed to other people.

Section of skin showing blisters on surface with herpes viruses inside.

A soft wet sore may form in place of the blister. The herpes virus is in the fluid of the open sore. So the virus can still be spread to others.

Section of skin showing ulcers on surface with herpes viruses inside.

A soft crust forms as a new layer of skin grows. Fewer copies of the virus are present in the sore. The virus can still be passed to others.

Section of skin showing crusted-over sore on surface with herpes viruses inside.

The skin surface is normal. But the virus stays in the body. Shedding is less likely. But it can still occur.

Section of skin showing herpes viruses inside nerves in dermis.

Testing for herpes

If your healthcare provider thinks you may have herpes, you may need tests done. Tests like these can confirm the diagnosis:

  • Viral culture. A small amount of fluid is swabbed from the base of a blister. The fluid is grown in a special culture with healthy cells. If herpes is present, it will change how the cells look.

  • Fluorescent antibody test. Cells are taken from the base of a blister. They are stained and checked under a microscope. If herpes is present, the cells will change color.

  • Molecular amplification. A sample of fluid that may have herpes virus is mixed with chemicals. These chemicals let pieces of the virus multiply very fast. These viral pieces can be found very quickly.

  • Other tests. If you don't have sores, tests can be done on blood or cell samples. These tests may show if you carry the herpes virus. But they are the least accurate of all the tests.