Have a sore right now? Get it swabbed today.
Same-day HSV PCR in Houston — walk in, no appointment, no insurance, no referral. Up to 40% less than urgent care. Results at 4:30 PM; if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician from our partner network sees you 4:30–6:00 PM.
Same-day HSV PCR in Houston — walk in, no appointment, no insurance, no referral. Up to 40% less than urgent care. Results at 4:30 PM; if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician from our partner network sees you 4:30–6:00 PM.
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Sample by 1:00 PM · Your slot with the doctor is held when we take your sample
Medically reviewed by our MD Laboratory Director (a role required by CLIA; the director’s name is on file in the CMS CLIA database, #45D2048957, and can be verified independently) · Editorial policy
Small, clear, clustered fluid-filled blisters on a reddened base, usually at the lip border and usually preceded by tingling — that is the classic picture of HSV-1. The alternatives look different: milia are hard and white, mucoceles are single and translucent, allergic reactions swell diffusely rather than forming a tight cluster.
Have a sore right now? Swab it today while it is fresh — a lesion PCR is the most reliable herpes test there is, and it loses sensitivity as the sore crusts over.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892
📞 Call (713) 266-0808
📱 Text (713) 832-8892
📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome
Checklist
| Feature | Points to HSV-1 | Points elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Several, grouped | Single lesion |
| Contents | Clear fluid | Hard/white (milia), translucent (mucocele), pus (bacterial) |
| Prodrome | Tingling first | None |
| Course | Blister → ulcer → crust → heal in 8–12 days | Persists unchanged, or resolves without crusting |
| Recurrence | Same spot, repeatedly | Random |
What each stage looks like
| Stage | What you see and feel | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prodrome | Tingling, itching, burning — nothing visible yet | Hours to a day before the sore |
| 2. Blister | A cluster of small, clear, fluid-filled blisters on a red base | Day 1–2 — best day to swab |
| 3. Ulcer | Blisters break open into shallow, painful, weeping sores | Day 2–4 — most contagious |
| 4. Crust | A yellow-brown scab forms; it may crack and bleed | Day 4–8 — PCR becomes less sensitive |
| 5. Healing | Scab falls away; pink new skin underneath; no scar | Day 8–12 |
The one detail that separates herpes from nearly everything else: it is a cluster. A single isolated bump with a white head is almost always something else.
Do not accept an HSV IgM blood test. CDC does not recommend it — it produces false positives and a great deal of unnecessary panic. If there is a sore, swab the sore. See lesion PCR vs. antibody testing.
We name drugs, never doses. Antiviral therapy for HSV follows CDC guidance; what you actually take is decided by a licensed physician who has examined you.
The single most useful thing on this page. If you have a sore right now, get it swabbed today — lesion PCR identifies HSV and tells you whether it is HSV-1 or HSV-2. Sensitivity falls as the sore dries and crusts, so the best day to test is the day it appears. Sample by 1:00 PM → result at 4:30 PM → if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician from our partner network sees you 4:30–6:00 PM. Same day. Walk in, no appointment, no insurance. Text (713) 832-8892.
FAQ
- Are they contagious?
- Yes — particularly when the blisters break. Avoid kissing and sharing utensils, cups or lip products until it has fully healed.
- Can I get rid of them faster?
- Antiviral therapy started early shortens outbreaks. That decision belongs to a physician — and “early” means today, not next week.
- Do I need a blood test?
- No. Swab the blister. It is faster, more specific, and it types the virus.
- How fast is the result?
- Same day at 4:30 PM. Text (713) 832-8892 and walk in.
The sore will crust over in a few days — and the test gets less reliable as it does.
Walk in today. Result at 4:30 PM. Licensed partner-network physician 4:30–6:00 PM if you need treatment. No appointment, no insurance — Save up to 40% compared to urgent care.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 — fastest
📞 Call (713) 266-0808
Walk in today. Result at 4:30 PM. Licensed partner-network physician 4:30–6:00 PM if you need treatment. No appointment, no insurance — Save up to 40% compared to urgent care.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 — fastest
📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Mon–Fri 9–5 · Walk-ins welcome · CLIA #45D2048957 · CAP #8722734