Final answer:
To collect a sample from a herpetic lesion or genital wart, a sterile swab is used to rub over the lesion for diagnostic tests. Biopsy may also be done for genital warts. Professionals must handle the sample carefully to prevent spread of infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
To collect a sample from a herpetic lesion or genital wart, a healthcare professional would typically use a sterile swab. For herpetic lesions, the swab would be gently rubbed over the surface of the lesion to collect virally-infected cells. This sample could be used for various diagnostic tests, such as PCR or culture, to confirm the presence of the herpes simplex virus.
Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), are sampled similarly by swabbing or by taking a small biopsy of the wart tissue for further examination. Both herpetic lesions and genital warts should be collected with care to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the patient's body or to the healthcare provider.
It's important to note that while protective barriers like condoms can reduce the risk of transmission of these viruses, they may not entirely prevent it since lesions can appear on parts of the genital area not covered by a condom.