STD: TESTING FOR MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM
A health care provider who has expertise in diagnosing sexually transmitted infections can usually make the diagnosis of molluscum con-tagiosum by looking at the bumps. There is no blood test or other test to routinely diagnose this infection. If there is doubt, a lesion can be biopsied to assist in making the diagnosis, but this is rarely necessary because the skin lesions are in most cases easily identified by sight.
One of the treatments for molluscum, freezing the bumps with liquid nitrogen, can help to accentuate the central umbilication that is a classic feature of the lesions. Another way to help make a diagnosis is to lance a large lesion to express the characteristic core of virus, which is hard, white, and waxy in appearance.
Partners should be referred to a health care provider for examination. If no lesions are seen, no treatment is necessary.
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