Can you test for herpes with a swab when there not active?

Can you test for herpes with a swab when there not active?

No, it isn't.

You can have a blood test for herpes when the virus is not active, but to have a swab taken you have to be actually having an outbreak.

The problem with herpes is that when it is dormant in the nerve ganglion - as it is most of the time - it is not present on the skin, so a swab would be pointless.

You can have a swab test for bacterial stds such as chlamydia at any time though.

Many people believe they are being tested for herpes when they have the standard std swab test done. But they aren't being tested for herpes. Unless this person was experiencing a suspected outbreak of herpes at the time, they might be swab tested for other stds but NOT for herpes.

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