Hello i recently had a rash appear on my groin formed fluiid filled bumps. Looked like herpes honestly from my own reasearch so i went to the doctor after about 4 or 5 days and he said positive its herpes but he took a swab anyway. So i get a call a week later and its not herpes but shingles. Is that possible? Ive been reading on false negatives but when he took the swab the sores were wet and still fluid filled not popped or healing? Do i need to wait and test again and act like i have hsv2? Iam so confused and scared

Home / Answered Questions / Hello i recently had a rash appear on my groin formed fluiid filled bumps. Looked like herpes honestly from my own reasearch so i went to the doctor after about 4 or 5 days and he said positive its herpes but he took a swab anyway. So i get a call a week later and its not herpes but shingles. Is that possible? Ive been reading on false negatives but when he took the swab the sores were wet and still fluid filled not popped or healing? Do i need to wait and test again and act like i have hsv2? Iam so confused and scared

Hello i recently had a rash appear on my groin formed fluiid filled bumps. Looked like herpes honestly from my own reasearch so i went to the doctor after about 4 or 5 days and he said positive its herpes but he took a swab anyway. So i get a call a week later and its not herpes but shingles. Is that possible? Ive been reading on false negatives but when he took the swab the sores were wet and still fluid filled not popped or healing? Do i need to wait and test again and act like i have hsv2? Iam so confused and scared

Yes, its possible for shingles to show up like that. The new viral PCR tests we use test for the herpes simplex virus (HSV) as well as Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV).

When VZV is on the genitals it would look the same as a HSV outbreak. The only way to tell the difference is by doing the swab.

I don’t know your complete medical/sexual history, but with what you have described I would have no reason to think you have HSV-2. The swab test you have done shows it found VZV which is the chickenpox virus and it is common for this virus to reactivate and develop as shingles anywhere on the body. We see situations like you have described at our STI clinic were people believe they are having a HSV outbreak but it turns out to be shingles.

Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.

Health Nurse

For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.

This answer was posted on April 2, 2017.

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