When Should You Take An At
Timing is everything when it comes to taking an at-home herpes test. This is because STDs are not immediately detectable in your system, so if you test too soon after exposure, your results may not be accurate.
Most people begin to experience their first outbreak within 4 days following the initial exposure, but the incubation period for genital herpes ranges from 2 to 12 days. This means herpes may not be detectable for up to 12 days after you are exposed to it. As a result, you should not take an STD test within the first 2 to 12 days following the initial exposure. If you test negative within the first 2 to 12 days, its best to retest after two weeks has passed to confirm your results.
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
How Long Do Herpes Test Results Take
As soon as you have collected the fluid sample and sent it to the lab, it can take just 2 to 3 days after the sample has reached the lab for the results to be ready. One of the Superdrug Online doctors will contact you through the patient account created online. This is an encrypted channel that protects your privacy.
If there is a need for more information, the doctor may call you. You will never be contacted through email or text with your results.
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How To Order Herpes Early Detection Testing
Getting tested can make anyone feel a little apprehensive. But you dont want to risk spreading HSV to your partner and no one wants to deal with the discomfort or embarrassment of an uncontrolled breakout. Thats why testing for herpes should be quick, easy and discrete.
Priority STD Testing offers prompt results, a pleasant ordering experience and assistance at every step. Get tested quickly and on your own terms with our herpes early detection testing.
Our Tests are FDA Approved and Performed in CLIA Certified Labs
Who Should Not Take The Herpes Blood Test
The Herpes Test is not intended for certain people or only in special circumstances:
The test is not intended for diagnosing illnesses or disease. For example, if you suffer from moderate pain, pressure in your chest, or you regularly struggle for breath, consult a doctor.
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Why You Should Trust Us
At Innerbody Research, we extensively test each health service we review, including all of these at-home herpes testing services. All told, our team has spent over 105 hours testing and researching their herpes test services to provide an accurate, unbiased analysis of how they compare, free of marketing jargon and gimmicks.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions to live healthier lifestyles. We evaluate the service based on adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence and health standards, and a simple question: would we buy the product or service ourselves if it werent part of our job, and would we recommend it to family and friends?
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
How Does The Test Work
To carry out the at-home herpes test, take a small blood sample from your fingertip with one of the lancets provided in the test kit. Extract a few drops of blood and collect them on the dried blood spot card this way, you only have to take a very small amount of blood, and the sample can be stored for a long time.
Send your sample free of charge to our specialized medical laboratory in the return envelope. The laboratory analyzes how high the concentration of antibodies against type 2 herpes is in your blood.
After the lab analysis, you will receive a notification, after which youll be able to access your results report by logging in on our website or on the My cerascreen® app.
Please note: Please remember that the cerascreen® Herpes Test is not a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis. Your test result alone is not sufficient for you to undertake treatments and measures on your own. Please always consult your responsible physicians if you want to take further measures.
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Blood Tests For Asymptomatic Herpes
If you do not have an active outbreak of herpes blisters, your medical provider can still test to determine if you have previously been infected with either herpes simplex virus.
But, the incubation period for herpes is up to 12 days, so your doctor may recommend waiting to perform a blood test until it has been at least that long since you were exposed to the virus.
If you are tested too soon after exposure, you may get a false negative result because the immune system has not yet had time to produce antibodies
Blood tests can be done that look for antibodies to either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
The results can indicate whether you have been exposed to one or both viruses.
It is not possible to know from a blood test whether you are currently contagious with herpes, only that you have previously been infected.
It is also possible to get at-home testing kits.
These use a lancet to prick your finger and take a small blood sample, which can identify whether you have been exposed to HSV-1 or HSV-2.
If you want an at-home kit, make sure you ask your medical provider for a recommendation, as some test kits do not check for both HSV-1 and HSV-2.
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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When Should I Talk With A Doctor About Herpes
If you have a primary care doctor who you regularly visit, you can share your results with them to provide better insight into your next steps.
If you dont have a primary care doctor, you can consult with a physician or nurse from the testing site about treatment options.
If youve been treating your symptoms with medication and are still in pain or discomfort, reach out to a healthcare professional.
You Got A Positive Herpes Test Now What
If you receive a positive herpes test, start by educating yourself about the herpes virus. There are many pervasive herpes myths that you shouldnt believe. The truth is that herpes is treatable and outbreaks can even be minimized or prevented with the right treatment measures.
Genital herpes and cold sores can both be addressed with a variety of household remedies, over-the-counter options, and prescription medications.
Acyclovir, for example, is an antiviral medication that treats infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, including genital herpes. Its best to start taking acyclovir as soon as you notice the first signs of an emerging outbreak. This medication stops the herpes virus from growing and spreading during an outbreak, although it cannot remove the virus from your body completely. Most people experience relief within just a few days of taking acyclovir.
If youre looking for a natural therapy to control herpes outbreaks, the Luminance RED is another option. The Luminance RED handheld devices shine red wavelengths of light over the skin of affected areas. The company has one device designed for oral herpes and one for genital herpes.
Medically-optimized red light is metabolized to accelerate the bodys healing process and strengthen its defenses against future attacks. Studies show that regular use of high-powered light treatment not only shortens the healing time of active outbreaks but can also prevent future outbreaks altogether.
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How To Choose The Right Herpes Test For You
Every herpes test has its own benefits and drawbacks. Its best to discuss your options with a medical professional to make the right choice for your healthcare needs.
It may be helpful to choose your herpes test based on your symptoms. Early in the disease, before a clear herpes outbreak appears, some test methodologies like a PCR test and an antibody blood test can yield false-negative results. On the other hand, a viral culture may yield false-negative results later in the disease.
If you want to receive test results that provide a comprehensive evaluation of your infection, consider using multiple herpes testing methods. If getting a rapid result is your priority, a PCR test is the fastest option.
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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How Soon After Unprotected Sex Can I Test For Herpes
Herpes has an incubation period of 2 to 12 days for initial infections. This means it can take 12 days for it to show on a test. The symptoms can appear quickly after exposure. This leaves a short window of time within which to do a swab test. Blood tests can however be accurate even months after exposure. You can wait either until symptoms appear or allow the incubation period to end before performing a blood test after unprotected sex.
If you test positive for herpes, it will be a lifelong condition. This applies to both HPV 1 and HPV 2. There is no need to retest if confirmed positive. Simply manage the symptoms as they come.
Questions For Your Doctor After At
The following questions about the results of at-home genital and oral herpes testing may be helpful for patients to discuss with their doctor:
- Is my at-home herpes test result reliable?
- What is the most likely explanation for my test result?
- Are there any follow-up tests that you recommend?
- How should I discuss my test result with sexual partners?
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What Is The At
Testing herpes on your own is easy. After your test kit has arrived, youll need to provide your sample. This can consist of either a finger-prick blood sample or a vaginal swab/urine sample. Some tests will ask for both, but every test we recommend asks for a finger prick. Youll follow the instructions on the kit, register an account with your information and the kits ID to ensure that your information stays tied to you, and then ship the box back to the parent organization. In a few days, youll have your results privately in your inbox its that easy.
Useful Methods Include Testing An Actual Lesion
Keep in mind that thereâs no such thing as âsafeâ sex, only safer sex, which means using protection and being open and honest with your partner. âIt can definitely happen,â Friedman says of the chances of transmitting the virus to a partner without a visible outbreak. âIts called asymptotic shedding there are studies showing that the rates of transmission of HSV-2 are the same for symptomatic and asymptomatic.â He adds that this is why using protection during sexual contact is so important, regardless of what blood tests say. Unfortunately, you can never ensure your risk of transmission will be zero, whether or not you know you have herpes, but using a condom or dental dam will get you closer to it.
Like Hutcherson, Friedman also doesnât recommend blood tests for herpes in the absence of symptoms. âThe tests that are useful involve sampling the actual blister or cold sore,â he says, which can involve smearing scrapes of skin cells from the sore onto a slide, targeting the infected cells. As with some of the blood tests, though, this sampling test still wonât tell you what type of herpes virus is present. A viral culture, on the other hand, will tell you which virus you have, though it takes some time to come back. âDirect fluorescent antibody is by far the best,â Friedman says, âas you can get a result in a matter of hours which can be as useful as a culture.â Not all hospitals have access to this method, however.
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What Happens If My Herpes Test Is Positive
We can help you with any support that you need. There is no cure for herpes, but the symptoms can be managed with medication.We can arrange an appointment with a Doctor so that you can discuss the results and get a prescription for the required medication , or you can take your results to your own GP.
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Ive Had Chickenpox Does That Mean Im Immune To Genital Or Oral Herpes Or That I Might Have Them
No. Chickenpox are herpesviruses, but they are a different kind of herpes virus. Another name for chickenpox is varicella-zoster virus varicella-zoster is a type of herpes separate from herpes simplex virus . Think of it like the difference between coronaviruses: having a common cold doesnt make you immune to SARS, nor does it mean youre more likely to have it. Theyre just related viruses.
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Is This Test Right For Me
This test may be useful if you:
- Want to determine if you have developed antibodies for either HSV-1 or HSV-2
- Are a person with recurrent genital symptoms
- Have a prior clinical diagnosis of genital herpes without laboratory confirmation
- Are a person whose partner has known genital herpes
- Are a person with multiple sex partners
- Are a person with a HIV infection
- Are a man who have sex with men
PLEASE NOTE
Herpes Simplex Virus 2 serologic screening is not recommended among the general population. Additionally, if an active lesion is present, please seek further testing from your doctor as direct detection of virus is preferred.
How Does The At
At-home herpes tests take advantage of the fact that blood tests for herpes are widely available through commercial lab-testing sites. The vast majority of at-home herpes tests use the same tests that would be ordered at the doctors office, provided by the same laboratories. However, instead of going to a doctor, the tests are ordered online. This can be a good option for people who are uncomfortable discussing sexual behavior with their doctor or whose doctor is not willing to test for herpes.
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How To Test For Herpes
If you suspect you have herpes, the first thing you should do is contact your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can examine your blisters or sores to check for herpes. If you do have an HSV infection, your healthcare provider may recommend a treatment plan for you.
The Center for Disease Control recommends a genital herpes test if you have symptoms of herpes or a sexual partner who has genital herpes . Note that some people have asymptomatic herpes and donât show symptoms, but the CDC does not recommend asymptomatic screening for herpes .
If you would like an easy at-home option to test for 6 other common STIs, try the Everlywell home STD Test for women or the STD Test for men which checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Once your sample is received and analyzed at the lab, the test results are sent to you quickly and discreetly via our secure, online platform.
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