Your Peace of Mind is Our Goal......Watch Dr. Arani, M.D. from California STD.com expert input on Fox News @ 10
Herpes II is the most responsible type of herpes for genital STD infection. Our test specificity has been compared to western blot technique, highly specific to minimize false positive result. If you have preliminary positive result by different lab then we could also confirm the accuracy of your result. No confusing Range number for interpretation of test, No indeterminate result unlike herpes elisa and select, with our test either you are POSITIVE or NEGATIVE in 10 minutes. We also able to provide oral herpes , anal herpes, pubic herpes test results
OUR HERPES TEST ACCURACY
Majority of herpes 2 test by different lab is by antibody detection by Elisa method such as select IgG. The problem we were facing was we had to interpret the result based on range of numbers for example below 0.9 negative, 0.9-1.1 indeterminate, and above 1.1 being positive. We used to get indeterminate and low positive and patient turned out to be sometimes negative and sometimes positive. This was confusing for our patients. They wanted to know if they are simply positive or negative. Finally on Feb. 2007 we decided to incorporate our current immunoassay testing system which has been compared to western blot (getting done in University of Washington) into our laboratory. Patient come to our clinic with one main question "do I have herpes 2 or not?" and they want "Yes" or "No" for answer. We give that answer with better confident now.
Herpes is a disease that must get evaluated by experience doctor. Just get tested through blood
as general rule does not provide conclusion for your concern. False negatives and false positives could be common, the results have to be weighed together with the clinical presentation and patient's history; with the currently available tests neither a negative nor a positive can ever be absolute. Your time of exposure, history, and clinical presentation will assist us to choose the right answer and right test (Tzank smear, WB, Elisa;recent or remote antibody, rapid assay, Type specific culture) for you.
Comparison of Different Type of Herpes Test
copyright protected, curtesy of Dr. Arani, M.D.
|
Herpes IgM |
Herpes Culture |
Herpes Skin Smear Test |
Result time |
2-6 days |
10 days |
5-15 minutes |
Specificity of the Test |
Low |
Very high |
high |
Sensitivity of the Test |
non conclusive |
Low |
High ( depends on lab & quality of sample) |
Window Period |
limited |
at time of sore presentation |
No Window, Test could be done as soon as the lesion appears |
Sampling |
We have capability do test both in serum or blood
venopuncture, serum |
swab, by touching the sore |
Swab, by touching the sore |
False Positive Result |
High , misinterpretation |
Very low to none |
Low |
Intermediate non-conclusive result (gray area) |
|
None |
Present |
Herpes type specific |
No |
Yes |
No |
Availability of the service by our institution |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Herpes Labialis
Digital Herpes
Herpes could involve finger and give you recurrent sore and irritation. You could get infected with touch cold sore or genital herpes could test you for digital herpes.
Anal Perianal Herpes
Herpes could infect anus. It is usually very painful and could be misdiagnose by hemorrhoid. We could test you for anal herpes.
Eyelid Herpes
Herpes could involve other part of the skin. It could involve eyelid , back, groin, pubic, hand, etc.
Herpes Stomtitis
It involves mouth.
Infection:
Herpes II is very contagious. Patient gets infected by direct contact with person who is infected with herpes . Many people are infected with the hepres type 2 and some are not. Not every sore on genital or other part of skin representing herpes. For instances, other infectious diseases could give you sore on your genital such as syphilis or chancroid by Haemophilus ducreyi so It is very important that you seek medical attention if you noticed sore on your genital .
Compare Our Herpes II blood Test
|
Hepres I IgG Blood Test |
Direct Smear Skin Test for Herpes |
Location specific |
No |
Yes |
Window period |
waiting up to 6 months after infection |
Immediately, after lesion or sores appear |
Result |
2-7 days |
Technical |
Detect development of antibody in blood against herpes |
Direct Detection of Herpes manifestation in sore or lesion |
DIs Herpes just a dermatological Disease?
No, it is beyond that , It is a viral infection that will stay with you for lifetime. The skin rash is just manifestation of this infection. You may not have any dermatological symptom to begin with. You could infect your other part of your body by contact ( for example you could get eye infection, Herpes conjunctivitis). You could develop secondary bacterial infection, or it might put you on higher risk of getting other STDs as well. We do not just consider dermatological aspect of herpes, we approach it
systemically we will answer all your questions.
Complication
-
Recurrence
-
Spread of herpes to other skin areas
-
Secondary bacterial skin infections
-
Generalized infection -- may be life-threatening in immunosuppressed people, including those with HIV or cancer infections
-
Blindness
Note: Herpes infection of the eye is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, causing scarring of the cornea.
Prevention
Avoid direct contact with herpes sores. Minimize the risk of indirect spread by thoroughly washing items such as towels in hot (preferably boiling) water before reuse. Do not share items with an infected person, especially when they have herpes lesions. Avoid triggers (especially sun exposure) if you are prone to oral herpes.
Avoid performing oral sex when you have active herpes lesions on or near your mouth and avoid receiving oral sex from someone who has oral or genital herpes lesions. Condoms can help reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the risk of catching herpes from oral or genital sex with an infected person.
Both oral and genital herpes viruses can sometimes be transmitted even when the person does not have active lesions.
Symptom
Herpes could be typical such as blisters or atypical such as unusual rash which does not appear to be like herpes at all on exam and needs very experience clinicial to make the diagnosis. The first episode may be mild or severe.
- First symptoms usually appear within 1 or 2 weeks, and as long as 3 weeks, after contact with the virus.
- Sore throat and fever that can last up to 5 days may occur before the blisters appear. There may also be swollen glands in the neck.
- First episode may last 2 to 3 weeks. The lesions may be on your genital, pubi, arround anus.
Later episodes are usually milder.
- May be triggered by menstruation, sun exposure, fever, stress, or various other unknown causes.
- Warning symptoms of tingling, burning, increased sensitivity, or sensation may occur about 2 days before lesions appear
An outbreak usually involves:
- Rash or skin lesion around genital or anus
- Small blisters (vesicles) filled with clear yellowish fluid
- Blisters on a raised, red, painful skin area
- Blisters that form, break, and ooze
- Yellow crusts that slough to reveal pink, healing skin
- Several smaller blisters that merge to form a larger blister
Outbreak Triger:
2 main different type of stimulation could reactivate the virus and make it active to create Herpes outbreak:
Psychological: Psychological stress such as recievig bad news, loss of job or love one would be some examples and in some cases even when you see a bad dream!
Physical: excessive Sun light, menstration, Upper respiratory tract infection, are examples of physical stress.
Warning Against Herpes IgM testing: IgM test is non reliable test for diagnosis of herpes, recently many online STD testing sales companies try to promote Herpes IgM testing and misinform patients Go To Detail information section
Herpes is a disease that must get evaluated by experience doctor. Just get tested through blood
as general rule does not provide conclusion for your concern. False negatives and false positives could be common,
the results have to be weighed together with the clinical presentation and patient's history; with the currently available
tests neither a negative nor a positive can ever be absolute. Your time of exposure, history, and clinical presentation will
assist us to choose the right test ( Direct smear, WB, Elisa;recent or remote antibody, rapid assay, Type specific culture)
for you.
Herpes evaluation by examination ?
The most important part of herpes evaluation is experience doctor examination. We have diagnosed many patients with herpes with just physical examination and patients was treated on the same day without even testing ( great saving for non-insured patients).
Herpes Virus:
It is an enveloped virus with DNA with fragile membrane. The herpes virus with damage
envelope is not as infectious . It easily fall apart and virus could only be obtain by direct mucosa contact.
It means it is unlikely to get it with sharing dishes or going to public bathroom. Herpes virus invade human
body by direct mucosa/ skin contact. The Virus use host cell for reproduction and destroy the host cell, as
result the classic symptom of blister formation (if symptomatic) tingling and pain occur.
Herpes Oralis / Labialis Treatment
tWe will take many elements into our consideration before initiating treatment. We have helped thousands of herpes patients in past and we follow many of them with one simple goal: No more outbreak. We assure our patients that we do not treat them based on pharmaceutical company advertising promotions for FDA approved or non approved medicines. Unfortunately there are various pharmaceutical companies try to advertise their product and some are not as effective as described and some are Non-FDA approved. Due to our clinical experience first episode of herpes is the most important one for long-term treatment and suppression. We treat many herpes patients and our considerable experience will be invaluable to you. Remember not all herpes infected patients are same for treatment plan. According to Dr. Arani three main element needs to be consider in herpes positive patient as follow:
1) Short Term Goal At this level the main goal is to treat the patient and relieve patient discomfort and pain. The earlier the treatment started the faster is the recovery. At this stage clinician must treat the outbreak. Certain advance outbreak accompanied with a lot of pain, Pain control should be consider as well. The pain management of herpes my not be as easy. Conventional pain killer may have limited or little effect. Usually female patients may have more discomfort than male for 2 reasons:
Touch Sensitivity: The location of herpetic sore is very important. Obviously gum and hard pae late ar very sensitive and in close contact with food particle during chewing or drinking . The salt contact or certain food and drink such as hot tea on sore my contribute to excruciation of pain.
Direct pain ("organic pain") This pain come from the herpes sore itself. Because of herpes virus lives in nerve then the pain associated with herpes might be more sever than other similar non-herpetic sore. The conventional pain killer might more helpfull for this type of the pain.
2) Long Term Goal
The mind will forget the diagnosis of herpes if there is no further outbreak, that is human. Forgetting the pain is the most blessing element in human brain structure/evolution. Imagine if you remember all bad news, all bad memory and all devastating trauma in your life as fresh as they have happened to you. You would never be able to get out of the bed and survive and live a normal life. The forgetfulness is blessing in those situations. The grief of having herpes may resurface every time you get an outbreak. You need to forget about this disease. In order to reach this goal you need to be herpes sore free. We address all this issue in details if we diagnosed you with herpes.
Psychosocial and Relationship
In book of herpes there is nothing more important than a physician(MD) clearly understand and know all the detail aspect of the psychological aspect of herpes positive patient. Patient has to live with a virus for remaining of his/her life. Clinician must put her/his feet in patient shoes when discussing the news or treating the herpes patient. In many instances of breaking the news, patient is so much emotionally overwhelmed that I had to gave moment of silent and approach the patient from different aspect. There are more than 6.5 billion people in the world while we can not find 2 people with 100% exact similar. We are made of our DNA, memories and experience and it is impossible to find all these 3 elements common between two unique people. I have had patient who's only concern was to protect his partner while another patient who care less about anyone else and I had to spend tremendous amount of time to educate him about how important it is to protect his partner. Patient has many questions concern that all need to be answered.
We know herpes virus lives in the nerve, so the stress and the thought of the herpes may contribute to frequent outbreak. We answer all your questions in details in your visit and we make sure that you leave with clear mind.
TEL (323)-231-6000 or (818)-897-8000
14
Hidden Reasons to Choose Us
Compare
us |
CaliforniaSTD.com
Dr.
Arani Medical Center
Immunoassay test |
Other
" Online Testing Centers"
STD/std...com/.org
& etc
Elisa Test |
Waiting
for Herpes result
Window Period |
in minutes
Immediately after lesion or sores appears |
Always
promise 1-2 days may take
up to one week
Longer, usually few months |
Active sore on lip, anus , pubic and genital
STD |
We are
able to do direct sampling |
No direct test available
|
Cancellation
Fee
Testing Fee |
No
penalty
Always appraised
in advance for each test
|
Up to 30-40% !
cancellation fee
you can not change your mind because there is no full refund!!
you pay before getting tested |
STD/ Herpes
Exam
|
Will
be done as part of the consultation
by doctor, you may get your diagnosis
without even testing
|
No
exam available
|
Accuracy
and Quality of Our STD Testing
|
Exclusive
STD medical lab would perform
your test . Our tests are
extremely accurate. Our Lab
is under constant evaluation,
quality control (QC), quality
assurance (QA), and proficiency
evaluation (PT) and state
inspection. Our lab
director is MD in STD field. |
Generic
medical lab |
Treatment
of Herpes
If
you become positive
|
Available on the same day of
testing
|
No
Treatment
You
have to find a doctor to get
treated then, and doctor may
need his own test order if
not in agreement with online
counselors tests
|
Peace
of Mind |
To
be given to you by MD Physician
only |
None,
(no mater what online vender claims) |
STD
test and screening order |
By
MD in venerology practice
chosen
by doctor only considering
your exam, history, complaint, time of exposure
and your request
|
Chosen
by online sales counselors,
telemarketer, venders, etc
(Non-MD) |
Responsibility |
Please
feel free to read about our
center, we are well known
by state and nationally, credential
of health care provider is
in disclosed for your
evaluation |
There
is no company physical address
information is disclosed on
the web site, mostly out of
state with toll free # and
credit card machine. |
Confidentiality |
No
ID or Credit card name and
billing address information
would be shared online. you
may choose to pay direct as
well for the service.
|
You
may share all your billing
information and name, which
is link to patient online
or online company as a STD
testing Customer. |
NGU,
Crabs, Bacterial culture,
Herpes culture, Trichomonas,
Chancroid, Infectious Mono,
LGV evaluation, Bacterial
Vaginosis (BV), MRSA, and
many more... |
All
available |
None
only 4-6 routine
panel test is available
with routine non customized
procedure for everyone |
NGU,
Crabs, Bacterial culture,
Herpes culture, Trichomonas,
Chancroid, Infectious Mono,
LGV evaluation, Bacterial
Vaginosis (BV), MRSA, and
many more... |
All
available |
None
only 4-6 routine
panel test is available
with routine non customized
procedure for everyone |
Herpes Test |
Immunoassay
needs few days and 2 weeks in average windows
|
Elisa
Needs few months after exposure |
Follow
up after screening and STD
testing
STD Counseling
|
Direct
(MD) doctor unlimited
interaction, consultation,
phone calls, for up
to 14 days By physician, ask all your questions.
By physician, ask all your questions.
|
No
Doctor or Lic health professional
provider follow up Non-physician.
You get some service before payment then you are on your own after you get charged with 40% cancellation fee
|
2. IgM tests cannot accurately distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, and thus very easily provide a false positive result for HSV-2. Most adult population in the U.S. already has antibodies to
HSV-1, the primary cause of oral herpes. A person who only has HSV-1 antibody all his/her life may get false belief of got infected with HSV-2 as IgM might become positive.
3. IgM tests may cross-react with other viruses in the same family, such as varicella zoster virus (VZV) which causes chickenpox or cytomegalovirus (CMV) which causes mono, meaning that positive results may be misleading.
4. IgM has short life so there is small window period that appears and disappear , so person could have been infected with herpes and get negative IgM .
In conclusion, we do not recommend to use Herpes IGM for any diagnosis of types specific herpes