How Does The Test Work
The genital herpes home test kit conveniently allows you to detect genital herpes without the need to visit your doctor or a sexual health clinic.
Ordering a test kit from Superdrug Online Doctor is easy just follow these simple steps:
- Your test kit will be delivered to an address of your choice
- Follow the instructions in the included leaflet to collect the sample
- Place the sample in the prepaid and addressed envelope and send it to our lab
- Your results will arrive within 2 to 3 days of the sample arriving at the lab
Why Should I Get Tested
Genital herpes does not often show signs or symptoms until you have an outbreak. If you have had unprotected sex with someone who has genital herpes, then you may have caught it too. It is important to get tested so that you do not pass it on to someone else.
It is very important to get tested if you are a pregnant woman and have a partner with genital herpes. This is because your baby could also become infected if you get genital herpes too. Herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening.
How To Diagnose Herpes
Genital herpes is typically diagnosed through examination by a medical professional and a blood test. If you suspect you have genital herpes , you can take an antibody test.
To test for 6 other common STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, try the Everlywell home STD Test for women or the STD Test for men. After you collect your sample at home, it is received and analyzed at the lab, and the test results are sent to you quickly and discreetly via our secure, online platform.
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Should I Get Routinely Tested For Herpes
The CDC doesnt recommend routine testing for herpes. Individuals who are diagnosed with genital herpes but who do not have symptoms typically dont change their sexual behavior. Therefore, routine testing has not been effective at preventing the spread of the virus. It is also possible to get a false positive result from a herpes test, which is another reason the CDC doesnt encourage routine use of the test.
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What Are The Symptoms
Many people have no symptoms during the initial infection or recurrences.
However, for some people, initial infections may cause:
- painful blisters, ulcers or sores
- pain and swelling in the genital area which causes difficulty in urinating
- flu-like symptoms
- small cracks in the skin
- redness or a rash
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Best For Service Extras: Stdcheckcom
STDcheck.com
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Cheaper single HSV type test may not find all genital herpes
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Doctor consultations only available if you test positive
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Insurance not accepted
STDcheck.com allows people to order sexually transmitted infection tests online and then go to a local lab for testing .
Over 4,500 testing locations are available nationwide, and most people will be able to find a site that is convenient for them. After the test is ordered, you go to the lab and have your blood drawn. The lab sends it for analysis and, in a few days, you can access your results by phone or online.
The test for HSV-1 and HSV-2 is $79, and a variety of other, more comprehensive STI testing options are also available. Telephone doctor consultations are free for individuals who test positive.
One benefit of this service: The website also offers a tool to send anonymous text alerts to previous sexual partners to suggest they get tested.
Genital Herpes Is Common Shouldnt Cdc Recommend Testing For Everyone
CDC recommends herpes testing for people who have genital symptoms to confirm if they have it. Testing allows a healthcare provider to talk with patients about what to expect in the future. This includes talking about medications that help with symptoms. Providers can also tell patients how to lower the risk of transmitting herpes to sex partner.
CDC does not recommend herpes testing for people without symptoms in most situations. This is because of the limits of a herpes blood test and the possibility of a wrong test result. The chances of wrong test results are higher for people who are at low risk of infection.
Blood tests might be useful if:
- You have genital symptoms that could be related to herpes, or
- You have a sex partner with genital herpes, or
- Your provider found signs of herpes, but you still need a test to confirm it.
If you are sexually active, talk openly and honestly with your healthcare provider about what tests are right for you. These tips can help.
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Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About An Hsv Test
The best way to prevent genital herpes or another STD is to not have sex. If you are sexually active, you can reduce your risk of infection by
- Being in a long-term relationship with one partner who has tested negative for STDs
- Using condoms correctly every time you have sex
If youve been diagnosed with genital herpes, condom use can reduce your risk of spreading the infection to others.
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What Does The Test Result Mean
Direct detection of the virus
- A positive HSV DNA test or culture indicates that you have an active herpes infection, and the result may indicate if it is HSV-1 or HSV-2.
- A negative PCR test or culture indicates that the herpes simplex virus was not detected, but this does not definitely rule out an infection. False negatives can occur if there is not enough active virus in the sample. This may happen if the lesion is cultured more than 48 hours after the symptoms appear. If suspicion of herpes remains high, repeat testing may be done.
Antibody blood tests
- A positive HSV-1 or HSV-2 IgG antibody test means antibodies are present in your blood, which means you have had an infection in the past even if you havent noticed any symptoms. The type of antibody detected indicates the type of HSV infection.
- Negative HSV antibody results mean that it is unlikely that you have been exposed to HSV or it may mean that your body has not had time to begin producing HSV antibodies.
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Best For Early Detection: Priority Std
- Collection method: blood test or urine sample
- Results: within 13 days
- Follow-up care: phone consultation with partner physician who may prescribe treatment for $65
- Cost:$99 for standard herpes testing and $189 for early-detection testing
- Pro: offers tests for early detection of herpes
- Con: requires a visit to a laboratory
Priority STD offers two lab-based herpes detection tests: A standard herpes test, costing $99, and a herpes early detection test, costing $189. The latter can detect the presence of the herpes simplex virus as early as 10 days after exposure.
This may be suitable for people who would prefer to quickly seek diagnosis and treatment for herpes.
To order either herpes test, a person must access the company website and enter their ZIP code to find their nearest testing center.
The company claims it has over 4,000 private test centers across the United States.
After ordering the herpes test, a person can walk into their local center to receive the testing. An appointment is not necessary.
The test procedure involves a simple blood test and urine sample, which typically takes a matter of minutes. A person can expect to receive their online test results within 13 days.
In the event of a positive result, a person can have a phone consultation with a partner physician, who may prescribe treatment at an additional cost of $65.
How To Order Your Tests
The free COVID-19 tests are part of the Biden Administrations COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan and will only be available for a limited time. The orders began shipping the week of December 19th.
Heres how to order yours in less than two minutes:
You can also call 1-800-232-0233 .
These free at-home tests are available for every residential address in the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and overseas military and diplomatic addresses . You may also request your tests be sent to a POBox, as long as its registered as a residential POBox, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
Your tests will be delivered via the U.S. Postal Service and all orders within the continental United States will be sent through First Class Package Service . Youll be able to track your order status if you provide an email address to receive notifications with shipping updates.
Although you cant choose the brand of COVID-19 test you receive as part of the program, they are all FDA-authorized at-home rapid antigen tests.
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When Should You Consider Getting Tested
Herpes is a sneaky, deceitful virus. It hides deep inside your nerve cells for unpredictable periods of time before triggering visible symptoms. In many cases, it infects the body and spreads to others without any obvious signs at all. As many as 90 percent of people infected with herpes are unaware they have the virus because theyve never experienced an outbreak.
People who dont have symptoms are more likely to transmit the herpes virus through a phenomenon known as asymptomatic shedding. This occurs when the virus sheds from the skin and spreads to others, even when no sores are present. Asymptomatic shedding is undetectable as there are no signs or symptoms, but it’s real.
According to research, at least 70% of infected people experience asymptomatic shedding of HSV-1 at least once a month. Many may even shed the herpes virus without symptoms more than six times per month.
Given that the herpes virus doesnt always trigger outbreaks and symptoms, testing is an important way to monitor your health. The CDC recommends testing if you are experiencing symptoms that could be related to herpes or if you recently had sex with a new partner who has genital herpes.
Remember, its possible that early herpes symptoms may not seem related to herpes. An initial herpes outbreak causes flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, fever and chills. These symptoms may be paired with pain, itching and redness around the affected area.
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What Is The Difference Between Genital Herpes And Genital Warts
Both genital herpes and are STIs, are spread through skin-to-skin contact, and are caused by a virus. But the viruses that cause genital herpes and genital warts are different:
- Herpes simplex virus is the virus that causes genital herpes.
- is the virus that causes genital warts.
There is no cure for either genital herpes or genital warts. But, different medicines can help manage the symptoms of herpes and treat the complications of HPV infections that can cause genital warts.
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Symptoms Of Genital Herpes In Females
Getting a menstrual period can cause an outbreak of genital herpes.
Also, a person may mistake the symptoms of genital herpes for those of a yeast infection or bladder infection.
Genital herpes can spread in the following ways:
- receiving oral sex from a partner with a cold sore
- touching a herpes sore, then touching the genitals
- a baby can contract genital herpes during birth if the mother has the virus
People can sexually transmit the virus even if they have no visible symptoms.
It is not possible to contract genital herpes from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or touching other objects. The virus can only spread from human-to-human contact.
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Comparing And Contrasting Laboratory And At
There are significant differences between genital and oral herpes tests conducted at-home and those ordered by a doctor.
Several important tests used to diagnose genital and oral herpes are not available as at-home tests. Herpes viral cultures and polymerase chain reaction testing, both of which are only conducted in-lab, are the preferred tests for patients during a genital or oral herpes outbreak.
Although in-lab testing is more appropriate for most patients, it can be inconvenient and may cost more than at-home testing.
Can You Donate Blood With Hsv 2
According to the American Red Cross donor eligibility guidelines, people with HSV are allowed to donate blood , unless they have another prohibitive infection, like HIV or hepatitis. However: People having their first herpes outbreak are discouraged from donating, and are asked to wait about a month.
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What Treatments Are There
Doctors may prescribe one of the following antiviral medications to help manage herpes symptoms. A person can also take steps at home to ease the symptoms.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
How Is It Treated
There is no cure for herpes, but treatment can ease symptoms and prevent recurrences.
Antiviral medications are very effective and very safe, even when taken for long periods:
- Initial infections are treated for up to 10 days to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
- Recurrences can be treated with short one day courses of episodic therapy, started at the very first sign of symptoms.
- Frequent recurrences can be suppressed by taking a continuous daily medication. Suppressive therapy also has the advantage of reducing transmission to sexual partners.
People with herpes often switch between episodic and suppressive therapies according to their needs and circumstances.
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When Is The Best Time To Take An At
The incubation period for herpes the amount of time from when you are first infected to when you first begin to show or experience symptoms is 3-6 days, but it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear.
We recommend that you take a Herpes test as soon as symptoms appear.
Symptoms include small sores, ulcers and/or wart-like growths on your genitals and/or other parts of your body.
Please note: this test is only suitable for people who are experiencing symptoms of herpes.
What Are The Risks Associated With Herpes
If you have symptoms for Herpes, the use of condoms might not protect your sexual partner from getting the virus from your infected areas that are not covered by the condom. Therefore, it is advised to abstain from sex if you have symptoms.
Neonatal Herpes can occur in rare cases and might lead to lasting neurologic disability or even death of the infant. Pregnant women who get their first viral infection during late pregnancy are at a higher risk of acquiring the disease than those infected prior to pregnancy.
The symptoms and pains associated with recurrence of Herpes might lead to psychological distress, which could negatively affect the quality of life and sexual relationships of infected individuals.
If Herpes is left untreated, there is an increased risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
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Preparing For The Genital Herpes Test And Consultation
If you see your GP or visit a GUM clinic, they will ask a number of questions about your condition before providing a diagnosis. Your doctor will most likely ask you about your symptoms, recent sexual encounters, your STI history, whether you use condoms and whether you are taking any medication. You should use your consultation to ask any questions you may have with regards to your condition, your risk of STIs and how to avoid infecting future partners.
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Herpes Home Test Vs Herpes Lab Testing
While our herpes test requires a visit to a lab, our testing process is private and no information is shared with your health insurance company or your personal doctor without your consent. That being said, some people would prefer to get a home herpes test . While there are some herpes test kits available on the market, current data suggests that they may not be as accurate as the FDA-approved herpes blood testing labs that we use and are trusted by doctors and medical providers across the country.
In order to prevent exposure to herpes, one must avoid any oral or sexual contact with an infected person. While condoms might help during sexual activity, they are by no means foolproof in preventing transmission of the herpes virus. Once infected, there is no cure for herpes. During periods of active symptoms like blisters, specific antiviral medications can sometimes reduce the duration of the symptoms and intensity of any associated pain.
The CDC estimates that 776,000 people get new herpes infections each year and that 15.7% of people between the ages of 14 and 49 have an HSV-2 infection. For anyone concerned about a herpes exposure or for people in a new relationship, herpes lab testing is a helpful way to determine your status with simple, affordable blood testing.
- A doctors lab order*
- A PDF copy of your test results
- Responsive customer service
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