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Herpes is a multi-faceted condition that is made even more complicated with its causative microorganism having two different variants, namely, herpes simplex virus types I and II – otherwise known as HSV-I and HSV-II, respectively.

Depending on the test being performed and the testing physician's targeted diseases, various types of samples can be requested from you. In some instances, a minuscule blood sample of a few milliliters will be collected, some might ask for a urine sample, and others may opt for a genital swab. Again, the sample being collected will depend on the test being conducted and the outcome that is being targeted for this particular procedure.

It would certainly depend on how you could contract the STD that you are currently infected with. Do note that STDs are not necessarily only transmitted through sexual contact or sexual intercourse. The most common transmission pathway for STDs is through contact with infected bodily fluids – precipitating a systemic infection as the causative microorganisms penetrate through the mucosal membranes and skin openings in the body. While it might be true that you have not participated in any sexual activity yet, it is possible to contract the pathogen through other processes of body fluid contact, such as through high-risk bloodletting or sharing needles used by an infected individual.

Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.