If I carry the Cold Sore strand, is it safe to kiss my girlfriend who already gets cold sores?

Dear Ask The Doctor: I've read much of the population carries the cold sore virus, but many people never show symptoms. My girlfriend gets cold sores, and I'm scared to kiss her because of it. I've never had signs of them, but I thought if I get tested for the strand and show positive, I could kiss her without worry of catching anything. If I turn positive in testing, is it safe to kiss her any time I please, or could it potentially cause an increase in the virus, leading to my own regular outbreaks? I don't think I have the strand, but honestly I'd have to say I'm lucky if I do.

Dear Private:

As you may already know, Cold sores are fluid-filled lesions caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. You could be tested like you mentioned, but I would suggest you to avoid kissing her or share eating utensils when she is having an active lesion.

Doing so would certainly reduce hugely the risk for virus transmission. The virus can spread easily as long as there are moist secretions from her blisters. Therefore if you never kissed her before while she was having the blisters, it would be very unlikely that you carry the virus as a result, avoiding contact during cold sores would be enough to prevent transmission. I wish you the best.