Herpes Testing in Houston: Lesion PCR or Blood Test?
Medically reviewed by our MD Laboratory Director (a role required by CLIA; the director's name is on file in the CMS CLIA database, #45D2048957, and can be verified independently) · Editorial policy
Swab the sore. If there is no sore, think hard before ordering a blood test you may misread.CLIA #45D2048957 · CAP #8722734 · Same-day results · Walk-ins welcome
Lesion PCR when a sore is present: it identifies the virus and its type, directly. Type-specific IgG tells you only that you were exposed at some point in your life — not when, not where, and not whether the sore in front of you is herpes. HSV IgM is not recommended by CDC; it is a well-known generator of false positives and unnecessary panic.
Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome
Matching the test to the question
| Your situation | Right test |
|---|---|
| You have a sore right now | Lesion PCR — come in today, while it is fresh |
| No symptoms, general screening curiosity | Routine serologic screening is not recommended by CDC for the general population |
| Partner has HSV; you want to know your status | Type-specific IgG — discuss interpretation with the physician first |
| Anyone offering you an IgM test | Decline, and ask why |
A positive HSV-1 IgG in an adult is close to meaningless on its own — a large share of the population carries it, mostly from childhood oral exposure.
We name drugs, never doses. Treatment statements follow CDC guidance; the physician decides what you actually take.
Same day, start to finish. Sample by 1:00 PM → results at 4:30 PM → if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician in our partner network sees you between 4:30 and 6:00 PM, a few minutes away. That window is reserved for patients tested here, and your slot is held the moment we take your sample — the slot is held, not hunted. On your own, a same-day appointment is nearly impossible; at an urgent care, you wait in the queue. STAT: ~2 hours, sample in by 3:00 PM.
When is a herpes test the wrong test?
No symptoms, general curiosity. CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood screening for the general population, and a positive HSV-1 IgG in an adult is close to meaningless on its own.
The sore has already healed. Lesion PCR needs virus to swab, and sensitivity falls as the sore heals. Come while it is fresh; once it is gone, a swab may have nothing to find.
Someone offers you an HSV IgM test. Decline, and ask why. CDC does not recommend it: it produces false positives and does not reliably indicate a recent infection.
Go to an ER, not to us, if: you have severe pelvic pain with fever, sudden severe testicular pain and swelling, fever with rash and joint pain, vision or hearing changes, a severe headache with a stiff neck, or you are pregnant and think you have an STI.
FAQ
- My sore is crusting over. Should I still come?
- Yes, today. Sensitivity falls as the lesion heals, and we would rather tell you that up front than run a test that cannot help.
- Can PCR tell HSV-1 from HSV-2?
- Yes, and the distinction matters for counseling.
- Why is IgM bad?
- It cross-reacts and produces false positives, and it does not reliably indicate recent infection. CDC does not recommend it.
- Is there treatment?
- Yes — antiviral therapy suppresses outbreaks and reduces transmission. The physician decides what is appropriate.
Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome
References
- CDC — STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021
- CDC — Genital Herpes (Detailed)
- Our CLIA #45D2048957 and CAP #8722734 credentials — verify them yourself
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