HERPES

Where Can I get a Cheap Herpes Test?

Dear Dr. Tom:

I am a 26 year old man living in Atlanta
GA. Two years ago, my then girlfriend, had an affair. I forgave her
and took her back. I was madly in love with her and wanted to marry
her. Afterwards she found out that she had contracted genital Herpes.
She informed me BEFORE we ever had intercourse again. I told her I
loved her and that we would get through it. We were very careful and
she told me I must tell her if I ever had any symptoms. We were together
for 5 years and I never, ever strayed outside of our relationship.
I never had any kind of discomfort/symptoms that I could recognize.

Recently we broke up and I knew I had
to get tested before I moved on to another relationship. The test I
took was an older and basically inconclusive test at a cheap clinic.
All it said is that I "might" have herpes. I do not have medical insurance
and do not have a lot of money. I know that I must have the Western
Blot test (or something similar) that is as close to 100% accurate.
I do not have a doctor. I need to know about finding a doctor who will
take my blood and send it to Seattle to have the test done as cheaply
as possible. I’m in an extremely tight financial bind. Is there a particular
kind of doctor I need to go to?
D.

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear D:

Virtually all clinical laboratories within
the U.S. will process testing specimens only when requested from a
licensed physician, and the laboratory will also provide such final
testing results only from a physician. You do not necessarily need
specifically to go to a dermatologist, but that would be a good choice.
A family practitioner could also assist you. In either case, one of
these doctors will process your medical complaints and determine the
testing procedure.

You might be accessible to a social hygiene
clinic where procedures relating to sexually transmitted diseases are
the only such procedures performed. Usually there will be at least
one such clinic within each public health county facility. Some states
may differ. The least expense will be found from one of the social
STD clinics.

With the new health care system you must have insurance, but I don’t know about your deductible.

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