Herpes

does a pap smear check for the herpes virus?

Does a pap smear check for the herpes virus? I have a blister on my lip, It doesn't look like the other pictures I have found online of herpes but I am concerned. I had a pap smear about 4 months ago and nothing was said about it. They called back and said I am fine. Any ideas???

Public Comments

1. On rare cases, a Pap smear may indicate the presence of damaged cells that have been infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus type 2. At this point however, Pap smear tests are not reliable as a test for Herpes virus detection. There are 2 most reliable diagnosis and tests for genital herpes and these are CPR or viral culture and Serology or Blood Test. I'd call your OBGYN and make another appt to have it checked out.
2. Pap smears usually indicate weather or not cancer is present.
3. yes it does it checks for everything
4. NO it does not. A pap is intended to search for abnormal cells, but unless they are looking for HSV cells it will go undetected. I went to the STD clinic last week and cried like a baby cause I might have Herpes. I was sure I had gotten them this year since I was "cleared" on my annual just last March...however I was told that STD testing and PAP testing are very different and usually you have to request STD testing at the time of your annual since even the medical coding for the procedure is different. As far as the pictures go...from what I gather websites and the CDC show the worst case images, cause none of my bumps etc look ANYTHING like those pictures, just get checked out.....ease your mind! Im still awaiting my STD results but as you could guess...my PAP was cleared! Good luck!
5. A pap smear is NOT a check for all stds. You must ASK for std tests and make sure you specifically ask for the herpes test as it is NOT part of routine std screening. It is believed that 80% of the population has HSV1 which is the strain of herpes that causes cold sores.