I'm so confused,
About a month after a possible first outbreak of herpes, my doctor had me do a RNA by PCR Herpes blood test. But I have read numerous places that that is meaningless now that I have no symptoms. Is what Dr. Handsfield wrote in 2007 below still the case? It seems that PCR is more widely used in 2010 than even a couple years ago, but is my doctor just misinformed?? thanks!
Back on July 21, 2007, Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield wrote the following:
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jul 21, 2007 12:00AM
Are you sure it was an HSV PCR test? PCR is designed to detect the virus itself and is used to test lesions or other suspected sites of infection. HSV does not normally circulate in the blood and I have never heard of it being used to test blood. Even if a blood PCR is negative, that certainly would not rule out HSV infection, whether acuteAcute bilateral obstructive uropathy
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