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
The ulcer dries and forms a yellow-brown crust, which may crack and bleed a little; underneath, pink new skin appears, and the scab falls away typically around day 8 to 12, usually without scarring. The clinical catch: viral load falls as the lesion dries — so a PCR taken at the crust stage is considerably more likely to come back negative even though it really is herpes.
Have a sore right now? Swab it today while it is fresh — 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
Why “wait and see” costs you the diagnosis
| When you swab | Likelihood PCR detects HSV |
|---|---|
| Blister stage (day 1–2) | Highest — this is the moment |
| Ulcer stage (day 2–4) | Still good |
| Crust stage (day 4–8) | Falling — a negative becomes hard to interpret |
| Healed | Nothing to swab |
If your sore has already crusted, we will tell you that the swab may not be conclusive before you pay for it — and discuss what else would actually answer your question.
Healing normally vs. not
| Normal | See a clinician |
|---|---|
| Crust forms, falls away in 8–12 days | Lasting beyond two weeks, or getting larger |
| Mild residual redness | Spreading redness, warmth, pus — possible bacterial superinfection |
| No scar | Fever, severe pain, eye involvement — eye involvement is an emergency |
Go to an emergency department or an ophthalmologist immediately if there is eye pain, blurred vision, or lesions near the eye. Ocular HSV can threaten sight and is not a same-day-lab situation.
Do not accept an HSV IgM blood test. CDC does not recommend it — it generates false positives and 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 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 types it (HSV-1 vs HSV-2). Sensitivity falls as the sore dries, so the best day to test is the day it appears. Sample by 1:00 PM → result at 4:30 PM → licensed partner-network physician 4:30–6:00 PM if treatment is clinically appropriate. Same day. Walk in, no appointment, no insurance. Text (713) 832-8892.
FAQ
- Should I pick the scab?
- No. It delays healing, can spread virus, and invites bacterial infection.
- Am I still contagious when it is crusted?
- Risk falls but is not zero until it has fully healed. Asymptomatic shedding also occurs.
- Can antivirals still help this late?
- They work best started early. A physician will tell you whether it is still worth it.
- Next time — when should I come?
- The day it starts. That is when the swab is most useful. Text (713) 832-8892.
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