A 23-year-old G0 woman reports having a solitary, painful vulvar lesion that has been present for three days. This lesion has occurred twice in the past. She states that herpes culture was done by her doctor during her last outbreak and was negative. She is getting frustrated in that she does not know her diagnosis. She has no significant previous medical history. She uses oral contraceptives and condoms. She has had four sexual partners in her lifetime. On physical examination, a cluster of three irregular erosions with a superficial crust is noted on the posterior fourchette. Urine pregnancy test is negative. You suspect recurrent genital herpes. How do you explain the negative culture

Culture is a suitable standard for the diagnosis of the herpes. The negative results of the culture develop due to the fact that the lesion is being cultured unless the content of the blister much be used for the purpose of culture, to state the positive diagnosis of herpes. The blister is being unroofed and the base is scraped by the woman. This patient has proved to be presented a case of the late course of cultural diagnosis of herpes.

Oral contraceptives will not affect the growth of the virus. While the serum antibody screening can be done, which will indicate the etiology of the lesion.