How to Read Blood Test Results for Herpes
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused past herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Near people who have HSV-1 or HSV-2 don't have symptoms.
There are a lot of questions about herpes tests, and this page will help you understand CDC'south herpes testing recommendations.
For bones information virtually Genital Herpes, come across the Fact Sheet.
Genital herpes is common. Why doesn't CDC recommend testing anybody for this STD?
CDC does not recommend herpes testing for people without symptoms. This is because diagnosing genital canker in someone without symptoms has non shown any change in their sexual behavior (e.g., wearing a condom or not having sex) nor has it stopped the virus from spreading. Also, imitation positive exam results (exam results that say you have herpes when you do non really have the virus) are possible. Even if you exercise not have symptoms, yous should talk openly and honestly about your sexual history with your dr. to find out if you should be tested for whatever STDs, including herpes.
Although CDC does non recommend that everyone get tested for canker, herpes testing may be useful in some situations. Canker blood tests (also called type-specific HSV serologic tests) might be useful
- If you lot accept genital symptoms that could be related to canker,
- If you have (or take had) a sex partner with genital herpes, or
- If y'all want a complete STD exam, specially if you accept multiple sexual activity partners.
Please note that while a herpes blood test can help determine if y'all have herpes infection, information technology volition non be able to tell you who gave y'all the infection.
Why is testing for genital herpes only recommended for people who have symptoms?
CDC recommends canker testing for people who have genital symptoms for herpes to confirm that they are infected. These events are called "having an outbreak," and they announced as blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. The blisters break and go out painful sores that may accept weeks to heal. Testing allows a doctor to talk with you about what to look in the future, which medications are available to assist manage any symptoms, and how you can lower your risk of spreading the infection to your sex partner(due south).
If you have a partner with genital canker, testing tin tell if you lot likewise have the virus. If you are not infected, your physician can talk to y'all nigh means to lower your adventure of getting genital canker. If you are a pregnant woman and have a partner with genital herpes, it is very important to become tested. If you get genital herpes during pregnancy your baby could as well become infected. Herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening. If you are infected, your doctor will talk to you about your diagnosis and the possible symptoms of genital herpes. In improver, herpes blood testing may be useful if you are seeking a consummate STD exam, particularly if yous have multiple sex partners.
Is a blood exam for genital herpes included when I enquire to be tested for "everything" (all STDs)? Why does CDC recommend testing for other STDs, but non herpes?
Herpes blood tests may or may non exist included. Your doctor chooses STD tests based on your sexual behaviors (number of sexual activity partners, if condoms are used every time, etc.), also as how common the infection is in the surface area that you alive in. This is why you should accept an open and honest discussion with your dr. about your sexual activity practices and history. When you go in for STD testing, it is important to ask your doctor which infections y'all are and are not existence tested for, and why.
STD tests are usually done for infections that have serious outcomes if they are not treated. For instance, finding and treating curable STDs like chlamydia can stop them from causing serious complications like infertility (the disability to become pregnant) in women. Genital herpes does not usually result in serious outcomes in salubrious, not-pregnant adults. More often, the stigma and shame from a genital canker infection can be more than troubling to someone who is infected than the disease itself. If you are worried about genital herpes, you should talk with your physician about whether you should be tested.
Wouldn't testing anybody stop the spread of genital herpes?
We don't know. There is no prove that diagnosing genital canker with a blood test in someone without symptoms would change their sexual behavior and stop the virus from spreading. In improver, without knowing the benefits of testing, the chance of shaming and stigmatizing people outweighs the potential benefits. For these reasons, testing everyone for herpes is not recommended at this time.
If a pregnant adult female gets genital herpes is there a chance her infant can get infected?
Aye. Fifty-fifty though adults with genital herpes may non have whatever symptoms, herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening. Women who get genital herpes during late pregnancy take a very high risk for having a baby with herpes infection, and these women may not even know they are infected. Women who get herpes during early pregnancy, or who are infected earlier they get pregnant tin can besides spread canker to their babies. Well-nigh babies with herpes get infected every bit they come into contact with the herpes virus while passing through the birth canal, merely infection tin can also occur before nativity (congenital infection) or in the weeks after birth.
If you are meaning and call up that y'all or your partner may have genital herpes, tell your doctor. Your doctor tin can order testing and can talk to you most ways to lower your baby's risk for infection.
Are people with genital herpes at increased run a risk of getting infected with HIV?
Yes, studies show that HSV-two infection increases the take chances of getting HIV infection, even when at that place are no symptoms of genital herpes. HSV-2 infection can cause tiny breaks in the genital and anal area that allow HIV to enter into the body. Herpes infection too attracts the type of cells that HIV infects ("target cells") to the genital area. This increases the chance of getting HIV, if exposed.
Tin testing and treating genital canker decrease the risk for HIV infection?
No. Studies show that testing for genital herpes and treating with canker medications does non lower the risk of getting HIV.
Why are in that location state-by-state data for common STDs, but non for genital herpes?
Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are "notifiable" diseases in the U.s., only herpes is not. A disease is "notifiable" if healthcare providers in all fifty states are required past constabulary to report the diagnosis to their state or local wellness departments. CDC is besides notified, and publishes country-past-land data for these infections. Because canker infections are not notifiable infections by law, CDC is not able to provide land-by-land information. Public health surveillance for herpes infections is mainly done through population-based, national surveys, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Who decides which diseases are notifiable and why?
The Council of Country and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) works with CDC to decide if a particular affliction should be nationally notifiable. To brand this decision, they follow a number of public health principles, for case, (ane) whether or not it is treatable; (2) whether or not information technology is preventable; (3) how mutual information technology is; (4) whether or not a public health response is needed; (5) whether or not there is a good source of information on the number of cases; and (half dozen) whether or not it represents a significant public health threat (For case, how astringent it is). Data on HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections already exists in NHANES, so herpes infections have not been classified as notifiable diseases.
Why take false positive tests been used as an argument against routine testing for genital herpes, just not for other STDs, which can likewise have false positives?
False positive test results are test results that say a person has a illness or condition when they do non actually have it. False positive results can occur with many diagnostic tests, including STD tests. The chances of false positive results increase as the likelihood of the infection decreases in the person being tested. Faux positive HSV-two results tin can happen, specially in people who are at low gamble for a herpes infection. As well, we do not know if people who test positive for herpes volition change their sexual behavior as a issue of a positive test. This tells us that the harm of a possible false positive test may be a greater concern than the benefits of an bodily diagnosis. Unlike curable STDs, such as chlamydia, herpes infections are life-long, so it is particularly of import to avert a false positive exam.
Is Alzheimer'south disease related to HSV-i infection?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain affliction that develops as a consequence of a circuitous serial of events occurring in the encephalon over a long menstruum of time. The causes of Alzheimer's illness may include genetic, ecology, and other factors. Several different factors accept been statistically linked to Alzheimer's illness, including HSV-1 infection. Notwithstanding, some investigations advise that viruses other than HSV-ane may influence Alzheimer's illness. More research is needed to determine whether or not there is a causal link between HSV-1 infection and Alzheimer'southward disease.
I tested positive for genital herpes. Where can I find the latest information about ongoing genital herpes inquiry, including clinical trials?
The U.Due south. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Establish of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports research to develop prevention methods and treatments for genital herpes. Details most current research efforts can be found on the NIAID websiteExternal . NIH also maintains a database with information near clinical trials around the globeExternal . This database includes information on all genital herpes studies that are actively recruiting volunteers.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/screening.htm
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