Herpes 1 and 2 Testing: The Essentials

Herpes immediately comes to mind whenever STDs are discussed, and for good reason: it's one of the most widespread diseases out there, with an estimated 16% of Americans aged 14 to 49 carrying the virus. That number increases drastically for major metropolitan areas, especially New York City. As with anything else, knowledge is power where herpes is concerned. This article will get you acquainted with the basics of the disease and then provide an overview of treatment practices and herpes testing options.

The Basic Facts

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is, as the name suggests, a viral disease belonging to the same family as chicken pox and shingles. There are two varieties of Herpes Simplex. Type 1 is more common and usually affects the face and mouth, producing characteristic cold sores during outbreaks. Type 2 usually affects the genitals with painful, itchy sores; this type is what most people mean by herpes and this type concerns us most. Both types cycle between active and remission periods. Visible outbreaks correspond with periods of weakened immune response, becoming less severe and frequent as time goes on. However, most individuals can go weeks, months, or even years without showing any symptoms. Make no mistake: genital herpes is just as contagious when asymptomatic. In fact, this is one of the better reasons to seek an STD clinic for yourself or your partner. While incurable, the disease need not hamper one's intimate relations. Timely and thorough herpes testing is the first step to mitigating the worst of this common STD.

How Testing Works: Viral Cultures

Herpes testing is most accurate within 48 hours of the first outbreak. For this reason, it's important to find a clinic as soon as symptoms appear—your doctor will have a better chance of pinpointing the diagnosis, and you'll have improved treatment options. In these cases, a culture test is administered by swabbing the sore directly. Results usually take one week and can be “typed” to distinguish between the strains (either type can show up anywhere on the body, but Type 2 is most often the culprit in the genitals). Remember that time is of the essence: the longer you wait, the more likely your results will return false negatives due to a lack of active virus. Thankfully, new DNA tests are improving precision, but that's no reason to wait it out or avoid seeing a medical professional.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are available when there is a lack of visible symptoms. This variety of herpes blood test detects antibodies produced by the immune system to signal the presence of the virus. Specifically, it looks for IgG antibodies—these develop soon after initial infection and remain in the blood thereafter. Blood tests can also distinguish by type and are known for being more accurate. Be aware that it takes time for the human body to develop antibodies, and thus the medical community recommends waiting 12 to 16 weeks from the last possible date of exposure to ensure detectable levels. Consult your doctor to find out which herpes blood test is best for you—there are several varieties, each catering to different use patterns, patient characteristics, and results windows.

Alternate Tests

A few alternate methods of herpes testing exist. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests are highly sensitive and superior to viral cultures, but they aren't yet readily available. Expect to see advances in this technology in the near future. Viral antigen tests are accurate only in the initial outbreak and have similar availability problems. Finally, the Tzanck herpes test relies on health care providers' judgment calls, a less rigorous and regulated protocol.

New York City residents, don't hesitate to contact STD Center NY to ask about herpes 2 testing NYC. They offer unrivaled, board-certified medical attention for all of your questions, concerns, or inquiries. Just blocks from Grand Central Station and easily accessible by train or bus, STD Center NY features affordable, private, state-of-the-art herpes testing services. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment or log onto STD testing NYC for more information. Make a commitment to better health!

Imagine a Future With No AIDS: HIV Testing in NYC

NYC has always had the reputation of being a dangerous place. These days, we who live here wonder why. Things sure have changed since the Wild West days of the nineteen seventies, when crime ran rampant and entire neighborhoods looked like war zones, haunted by the drug addicted and mentally ill. Alas, NYC is still a dangerous place in some respects. Did you know that NYC tops the list in regards to HIV infections and some other STDs? It does. Clearly, there’s still a lot of work all of us can do to help make this wonderful city even safer than it has become in the past few decades. One great way to do this is to receive testing for diseases like HIV.

HIV testing makes sense for so many reasons. The latest studies say that if individuals infected by HIV began receiving their medicine at a much earlier rate than is currently occurring that the virus could dwindle away in as little as ten years. Not to zero, but to much, much more manageable levels. This would not only save countless lives but it would pump more money into the economy of NYC at a time when it is so important to not be wasting money.

Let’s state clearly for those who are still uneducated regarding HIV just exactly what it is: HIV is a short for the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. This virus attacks the body’s defenses, most aggressively its immune system, making it much easier for an infected individual to acquire any life threatening illness. Without the body’s natural built-in defenses any number of diseases can prove fatal.

Approximately twenty years ago in NYC it seemed that everyone was on the HIV bandwagon, sporting ribbons and reporting to STD clinic for testing diligently. These days—with better medicines keeping infected individuals from slipping into the horrors of full-blown AIDS—it almost seems as if we have forgotten the danger that accompanies sexual risk taking. Habits have gone from good to bad in just a short period of time.

Currently the statistics state that over one hundred and ninety thousand people from New York State are infected with the HIV virus—that’s three times the national average! Three times! These numbers include over two thousand infected persons under the age of thirteen. To make matters much worse—because herpes testing is not considered as important as it used to be—thousands of New Yorkers are living with the virus at this very moment—and do not even realize it. This is a terrible statistic that must be stopped and reversed.

When individuals are clueless about their infection they go about living the same lives they always have—and that includes unprotected sex that can and will infect more and more people. And so the dire cycle continues unabated. This can be stopped if every single person in NYC received STD testing in Manhattan. Those who are infected can curtail their behaviors, thus stopping the next generation of HIV victims. At the same time, those who would have started their medicine later in life can begin right away, keeping their ability to infect others—even through unprotected sex—to a minimum.

For those of us in NYC who feels that testing is for them, log onto herpes 2 testing NYC, and get the lowdown on how quick, easy and affordable HIV testing is. This certified STD clinic is located mere blocks from Grand Central Station, making it extremely accessible by subway and bus. Call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment today. Genital herpes testing in NYC is so important to our city. Please, begin soon.

An STD Stalker in NYC Genital Genocide: Testing for Herpes 2

NYC—home of all things good and bad. They may like things “big” in Texas, but in NYC we like variety. It is, after all, the spice of life. But sometimes having all this variety leads to some disastrous results. Take STDs for example. With a menu consisting of over twenty five different diseases, sicknesses and different illnesses all falling under the STD umbrella, it’s not surprising that we lead the country in herpes infections. That’s right, NYC leads the country in both herpes 1 and herpes 2 cases. Thank goodness for small favors, though, because our love-of variety offers us many decent STD clinics to choose from when we want to undergo testing, as well.

Herpes 2 is genital herpes and they are not something you can hide from your lover unless you demand the lights be shut every time you engage in sexual activity (that would get boring quick, no?). Herpes 2 sores are also very painful. Herpes testing on a regular basis can make you aware of your infection status, thus stopping the spread of this detrimental disease. You owe it to your lover—and yourself—to make sure that you know your status before sex begins. There is no better way to know than to engage in testing procedures on a regular basis. As previously mentioned, there are many places in NYC to begin.

Before we go any further let us take a look at herpes (both 1 and 2), their differences and diagnoses—and their treatment.

What are herpes exactly? Well, herpes is a collection of similar viruses (remember that once you acquire a virus it can only be controlled never cured!). When people speak of herpes they are usually referring—not to chicken pox or shingles (which are also herpes strains)—but to the herpes viruses: HSV 1 and HSV 2. The HSV stands for “Herpes Simplex Virus” with the former being oral herpes and latter being genital herpes.

The symptoms of herpes 2 are a series of painful blisters that break and form unsightly scabs that also hurt. Not everyone who becomes infected show these outward signs. There are people who become infected with the virus and never break out in sores. This is another reason why herpes testing is so very important. Sometimes the only way to know if you are able to infect your lovers is to find out via testing. The people that are infected through these symptomless carriers are more likely than not (by a huge margin) to break out in these horrible sores themselves. Do you really want to condemn someone you are sleeping with to this terrible life-time condition if a simple STD testing in Manhattan procedure can prevent it?

What is the testing procedure? In America in general—and NYC in particular—there are several different tests for herpes 1 and 2. They include the herpes viral culture, the herpes antigen test and the polymerase chain reaction test. It may all sound very confusing but it’s really not. A certified STD clinic can choose the best test for you. The testing procedure will be quick, painless and—believe it or not—pretty darn affordable.

Is there treatment available for herpes 2? Yes, of course, but this genital herpes testing in NYC will not cure a virus, it will only keep it in-check by keeping you healthy and limiting breakouts. Your NYC STD clinic doctor will know the best medicine for you. For those of you located in NYC, log onto herpes 2 testing NYC to arrange and appointment with this discreet certified STD clinic. They are located a few blocks from Grand Central Station, and so easily accessible by subway and bus. Dial 1-212-696-5900 for arrange an appointment—and learn your status!