Private Herpes 1 & 2 Testing Near You

What herpes is, and how common it really is

Genital herpes is caused by two related viruses. HSV-2 is the usual cause of genital herpes; HSV-1 is the usual cause of cold sores, and is now a common cause of genital herpes too, mostly through oral sex. The CDC estimates that about one in eight Americans aged 14 to 49 has HSV-2 and roughly half have HSV-1, and most of them do not know it, because the infection is usually mild or silent.

When there are symptoms, the first outbreak is typically the worst: a cluster of small blisters that break into painful sores around the genitals, rectum or mouth, sometimes with fever, body aches and swollen glands. Later outbreaks tend to be shorter and milder, and many people have none they notice. The virus can be passed on even when there are no sores, which is why so many people are surprised by a diagnosis.

Why people test

Knowing your status changes what you do: it lets you recognise an outbreak for what it is, take medication that keeps outbreaks rare, and protect a partner. If you become pregnant and know you have herpes, or your partner does, tell your prenatal provider, because the infection is managed differently around delivery. Prompt treatment of a first outbreak also shortens it and reduces the risk of complications.

One honest note: the CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood testing for people with no symptoms, because a low-level positive can be a false positive and a result can cause more worry than it resolves. The test is most useful if you have had sores or symptoms that were never diagnosed, or if a partner has herpes. If you are unsure whether it is the right test for you, call and talk it through.

How the test works

This is a type-specific IgG blood test that looks for the antibodies your body makes against HSV-1 and HSV-2, and reports each separately, so you learn which type you carry. It is a quick blood draw – no swab, no exam – and you do not need to have a sore to test. Sign in at the kiosk with your name and date of birth, give the sample, and you are done in about five minutes. Two limits worth knowing: a positive HSV-1 result cannot tell you whether the infection is oral or genital, and a low positive HSV-2 result should be confirmed with a second test before it is taken as final – the physician arranges that.

Because it looks for antibodies, the test cannot diagnose a sore on the day it appears. If you have a blister or sore right now, call: a care advisor can tell you whether to test today, wait, or see a clinician who can examine and swab it directly.

Before you go: No preparation at all: no fasting, nothing to bring. Drink water as usual; it makes the blood draw easier. Every test we offer is FDA-cleared and run in a CLIA-certified laboratory, the same tests a hospital or doctor’s office would order.

When to test

Antibodies to herpes build slowly, so this is one of the tests where testing too early most often gives a false all-clear. The timing is on our When to Get Tested page, or call (866) 872-1888, tell a care advisor what happened and when, and they will tell you which day to go in and whether a repeat test makes sense.

After a positive result: treatment and partners

Herpes is managed rather than cured, and for most people it is a much smaller part of life than they feared. A member of our care team calls you, explains the result – including which type and what that means – and arranges a consultation with a physician who can prescribe antiviral medication: taken at the start of an outbreak to shorten it, or daily to keep outbreaks rare and reduce the chance of passing the virus to a partner.

Partners should know so they can decide about testing. Condoms and daily medication together lower the risk of transmission considerably. If you are pregnant or planning to be, tell your obstetrician; herpes is managed routinely in pregnancy when the care team knows about it.

Getting tested privately

We do not bill your insurance. Your testing information is handled confidentially by the physicians and laboratories providing your care. Your lab visit does not announce why you are there: our partner labs collect samples for many different kinds of testing, and to other people in the waiting room you are simply another person having a routine lab visit. The charge on your card shows as RSC Health, and your result goes only to your private online account. Order online, or call (866) 872-1888 and a care advisor will place the order with you and find a lab near you.