Questionable Genital Herpes Test Procedure

[Erlich]

I have recently gone for a std checkup after a protected encounter with a female stranger two weeks ago.

I am worried about having contracted genital herpes, though currently show no symptoms. Though I should easily be able to walk into a clinic and receive these services, I live in mainland China, where the quality of medical service is less than world-class. There were things the doctor said that indicated to me that he doesn’t really understand herpes, like: “you don’t appear to have herpes right now, so we won’t do an antibody test... if you had herpes before, it would show up” .... I thought that was the whole point, since herpes never actually “goes away.” I’ve always tested negative in the past.

He insisted on a DNA test, despite the fact that there are no lesions from which to take a culture. Instead, he did a urethral swab.

I thought the herpes DNA test needed to be based on fluid from a lesion, blood, or spinal fluid. Why was he swabbing my urethra for a sample, when I have no evidence of urethral lesions?

Is this standard practice? Should I try another clinic?