The diagnosis of herpes involves both the evaluation of clinical findings and laboratory tests. Clinical findings typically present as watery, itchy or painful, fluid-filled vesicles that rapidly crust over. Laboratory tests include viral cultures from lesion swabs, PCR tests that detect the virus's genetic material, and serological tests that identify antibodies formed against HSV Type 1 and Type 2. Other conditions such as syphilis, fixed drug eruptions, trauma, and contact dermatitis should also be considered in the differential diagnosis.