A herpes simplex virus infection causes small, often times painful sores on the skin of the throat, mouth, nose, rectum, urethra and vagina. In rare cases, a herpes viral infection can cause only 1 outbreak, but for most people, they will experience many recurrent outbreaks. There are two types of herpes viruses. The first is the HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus type 1. This type causes cold sores or fever blisters on the lips of an infected person. It can be transmitted by kissing or by sharing kitchen utensils like spoons and forks. On occasion, this type also causes genital herpes. The second and more severe type is the HSV-2, or herpes simplex virus type 2. This type of virus is what commonly causes genital herpes; sores on the vagina for the women and sores on the penis for men. Type 2 herpes is transmitted through sexual intercourse with an infected person. Like the type 1 virus, type 2 can also cause oral herpes. In some rare cases, these viruses can cause sore to infect the other parts of the body, like the eyes and brain.

Test for herpes simplex virus are done when diagnosing the disease. These are usually done for the sore around the genitals. There are rare cases of tests being done using other samples like spinal fluid, urine, blood or even tears. To best determine a genital viral infection, a herpes viral culture is done. Fluid or cells are collected from a fresh sore using a cotton swab. This sample is then placed in a culture cup. Unfortunately, this test can be erroneous in giving false-negative results as it might fail to find the virus even if it is present. In the place of the herpes viral culture, a herpes virus antigen detection test is done. Cells are scraped off from fresh open sores, and then smeared on a microscopic slide. This is used to find antigens on the infected cells surface. Polymerase chain reaction test is done on cells or fluids taken from a sore, or other bodily fluids suck as blood or spinal fluid. The test is used to find the DNA of the herpes simplex virus. PCR can accurately identify between the type 1 and type 2 HSV. Lastly, an antibody test is done to locate antibodies in the immune system that may have been created to fight the herpes infection. Although antibody tests are done, they are not as accurate as viral cultures in terms of finding the specific case of the sore. This test cannot determine between current and past infections. It will also take time for the body to create antibodies to fight the herpes; therefore you might also get a false-negative result.

There is still no known cure for the herpes virus. Once infected, the virus hides in the body of the infected person and causes occasional outbreaks for some people. The reoccurrence of the outbreaks can be caused by stress, fatigue, and another separate infection like flu or cold. There are herpes treatments available for treating and relieving the herpes symptoms of the virus, as well as to shorten the length of the outbreaks.