Question:
For example, a guy I'm dating has herpes. I don't know if it's 1 or 2. If its on the genitals is it definately number 2? He had some kind of culture done and it came back negative, but I don't know what the test he had was? He recently started getting outbreaks, so maybe it's not testing positive yet? Should I suggest to him to have a blood test for both types?

Answer:
Either form can appear genitally or orally (sometimes in both areas too, but this is rare).

Blood tests will be useful if he's been having outbreaks for about 3 months, by which time he will have built up enough antibodies in his blood to register positive. Right now they may turn out indeterminate.

Answer:
I was tested while having an outbreak... Talk about a painful pap. I only had it for a few days before finding out, but my doctor had informed me that I could have had it for awhile, even tho I had been previously tested about 4 months back. She said they don't always show up on tests and it could take up to a year for someone to have their first outbreak.