How is chancroid diagnosed?

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How is chancroid diagnosed?

It’s somewhat difficult to diagnose chancroid. Scientists can use a test with specialized media to find H. ducreyi, but the media isn’t widely available and the test isn’t 100% accurate. Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for chancroid. This type of test finds genetic material from an organism like a virus if you have the virus at the time of the test, or fragments even after you’re no longer infected.

Your healthcare provider will want to rule out syphilis, herpes or lymphogranuloma venereum.

Because of the difficulties with testing, your healthcare provider will diagnose chancroid if:

  • You have one or more genital sores (ulcers) that are causing pain.
  • You have swollen and painful lymph nodes in your groin.
  • You test negative for infection with the herpes simplex virus and Treponema pallidum.

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