Herpes viral culture of lesion

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Viral lesion culture

Culture - herpes simplex virus; Herpes simplex virus culture

A normal (negative) result means that the herpes simplex virus did not grow in the laboratory dish and the skin sample used in the test did not contain any herpes virus.

Unfortunately, a normal (negative) culture does not guarantee that you do not have a herpes infection or have not had one in the past.

An abnormal (positive) result may mean that you have an active infection with herpes simplex virus. Herpes infections include herpes genitalis, which is genital herpes, or cold sores on the lips or in the mouth.

If the culture is positive for herpes, you may have recently become infected or you may have become infected in the past and are currently having an outbreak.

Review Date: 09/13/2009
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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