How long after an infection should one wait to take a herpes serology test?
On One Hand: Four-Month Wait for Serology TestTo get the most accurate results form a herpes serology (blood test), the Mayo Clinic recommends waiting four months after symptoms appear. Symptoms include prodrome (pain or tingling in the area) followed by blisters. The Mayo Clinic also recommends asking specifically for an IgG herpes test, which can accurately tell the difference between cold-sore and genital-herpes infections.On the Other: Diagnosis May Be Made SoonerA diagnosis of genital herpes can be made based on the appearance of symptoms as well as a sample taken from a sore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Medline Plus. However, these are not serology tests, and this form of diagnosis relies on having active symptoms during an outbreak. If you do not have active symptoms, a doctor may request a blood test, although the Mayo Clinic cautions that standard IgM herpes tests are not as accurate as IgG tests.Bottom LineTo get an accurate result after a genital herpes
