How effective is herpes blood test? - Herpes Message Board

Master Yoda · 03-29-2007, 03:17 PM

Hi,

I get these weird skin infections on my arms that I cannot identify. I went to get a herpes blood test months ago and I did not hear back from them (no news is good news).

However, I was reading somewhere that the blood test is not 100% effective. Do you know how effective it is? If I caught herpes it would have been about 1 year before the test, so it should be in my bloodstream.

Also I have one scab on my arm that I kinda looks like a herpes picture, but, a lot of the herpes pictures ive seen appear that it affects a larger area then my infection. All my irritations have been on my arms or legs, never near the genital area.

Ty

nhemi2 · 03-29-2007, 05:46 PM

No test is 100% accurate. Although each method of blood testing is different, the HerpesSelect test is about 96% accurate. If you were negative in the past, you may want to inquire about the results and/or have a repeat test. Note that the diagnosis of herpes can sometimes be made through a doctor simply looking at a lesion when you are broken out.