Can a pap smear detect herpes?

But in order to test for herpes, an antibody test needs to be done, not a swab test (PCR or culture) and certainly not a pap. Herpes virus is present only intermittently and so looking at one point in time for VIRUS is not accurate, not legitimate, and a total waste of money in the asymptomatic individual. read more

Pap smear Neither of these are specific tests for herpes. A Pap smear is not a specific test for herpes and so the virus can go overlooked or be misdiagnosed, especially if no active symptoms are present at the time of the smear. read more

A pap smear can detect herpes only if the patient is having an outbreak on the cervix at the time of the test. A pap smear can't tell you that you don't have herpes. read more