Here’s How Mpox Testing Works (and When You Should Definitely Get Tested)
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, cases continue to pop up around the country—and the world. While case numbers did go down as of last August, , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the numbers are expected to increase and resurge this spring and summer Because this is a rare disease, people might still be wondering what mpox is and how mpox spreads—and, most importantly, how to get tested for mpox.
Public health officials are urging people to get tested if they suspect they may have the rare disease, which is caused by infection with the mpox virus. But how do you get tested for mpox? Is this something your doctor can do or do you need to visit a special clinic? Infectious disease experts break it down.
When to get tested for mpox
If you think you have mpox (or monkeypox), or have had close contact with someone you know who has mpox, doctors say it’s important to get tested. “Although most people seem to be doing pretty well with mpox in terms of mild disease and resolution without treatment, some people develop more severe disease, particularly if they’re immunocompromised,” Dr. Russo says.
Antivirals like tecovirimat (TPOXX) can be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, like those with weakened immune systems, Dr. Russo points out. And, of course, you’ll want to know your status so you can avoid spreading mpox to anyone else.
As of June 2023, the CDC recommends testing only if you have a rash consistent with mpox. This rash can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. Other symptoms that may lead to you being tested include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Fatigue
How to get tested for mpox
It depends. Some cities are directing people who suspect they may have mpox to certain health clinics or special testing sites where they can get tested. But technically, your doctor can do this for you, says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York.
The CDC emphasizes that only a healthcare provider can order an mpox test. The healthcare provider may take a specimen and send it to a lab for testing or they may send you to a lab for both specimen collection and testing.
What to expect from an mpox test
The test is pretty simple. Your doctor will take swabs from at least two different lesions—preferably from different areas of your body—for testing, the CDC explains. The lesions will be swabbed “vigorously” to collect DNA, which may be uncomfortable but is necessary to get enough material to detect the mpox virus from the specimens. The specimens will then be sent to a lab for testing.
The amount of time it will take to get your results can vary, but they’ll likely come back within a few days, Dr. Russo says.
Is it safe to go to the doctor’s office if you think you have mpox?
Mpox “is not as efficiently transmitted as COVID,” Dr. Russo says, so it’s unlikely you would spread it around your doctor’s office while waiting to be seen.
(Mpox is usually spread through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids; respiratory secretions shared during prolonged face-to-face contact; or touching items like clothes or linens that previously touched the infectious rash or bodily fluids, per the CDC.)
“This is something that really requires direct, prolonged contact—you’re not going to spread or pick it up on the subway or the vegetable aisle at Wegmans,” Dr. Russo says. Still, he says, since it can be spread from fluid from the rash, it’s a good idea to make sure any pustules or bumps you have are covered.
Dr. Adalja recommends calling before you show up at your doctor’s office, though. “Not so much because of infection control issues, but to be sure that the primary care provider knows how to order the appropriate test,” he says.
What to do after you’ve been tested for mpox
Again, mpox is rare and odds are your rash is likely due to something else. Still, you’ll want to quarantine while you wait for your test results, just to be safe, Dr. Adalja says. At the same time, he says, continue to monitor your symptoms.
“Don’t have close contact with anyone else while you wait for your results,” Dr. Russo says. Once you get your results, your doctor can advise you on next steps from there.
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