The Western blot assay for herpes is very accurate in distinguishing type 1 from type 2 herpes. It is expensive, however, and only a few laboratories in the country perform the test. However, it is probably a good idea to ask your provider for this test if you want the most accurate result and a culture cannot be performed, or if the culture result is negative.
This test can take three weeks to six months after infection to show up as positive and in rare cases may take even longer. Performing the test on someone at the first onset of symptoms will indicate that person’s herpes status three weeks to six months ago, but the test will not give a positive result for herpes if a person just acquired the infection.
The Western blot herpes assay detects about 95 percent of cases of culture-proven HSV-1 and nearly 100 percent of cases of culture-proven HSV-2. The test does not tell where a person has the infection, however. For example, a person with type 1 herpes in the mouth will show the same result as someone who has type 1 herpes
in the genital area.
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