How To Test For Herpes At Home

Best For Private Pay: Healthlabscom

HealthLabs.com

Why We Chose It: HealthLabs.com offers a price guarantee. If you find the test that you ordered for a lower price elsewhere, it will match that price and provide a 10% discount.

• Has a variety of testing options that include at-home herpes testing

• Tests are run at the same labs that doctors use

• Offer single type-specific tests for HSV-1 or HSV-2, which some people might choose to save money, not realizing that both viruses can infect the genitals

• No medical consultation included, although patients can get help interpreting results

With HealthLabs.com, your order and pay for your test online and then go to a local lab to have your blood drawn. Thousands of testing locations are available around the country, and you should be able to find a site near you. Some locations may allow you to make an appointment in advance for testing. Then when you arrive, they will draw your blood and send it off for testing.

The least expensive herpes test that looks for HSV-1 and HSV-2 is $158, and a variety of other testing options are available. FSA cards can be used for purchase. When your test results are available, generally within 1-3 days, you will be sent email instructions to log into your secure online account and access your results. Medical consultations are not available with this company, although it will offer help understanding your test results over the phone or through live chat.

Can I Take A Herpes Test If I Dont Have Symptoms

The Herpes test has been designed to test people who are symptomatic and requires a lesion swab to be rubbed gently and painlessly over an active lesion, sore, or ulcer.

If you believe you have been exposed to an STI, but do not have symptoms, you can order a different test such as our 7-panel STI test, HIV & Syphilis test, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test, Syphilis test, HIV Test, and/or Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV Test.

If I Get Herpes Once Will I Have It Forever

Yes and no. The sores themselves mean you have an active infection, which can be treated with antiviral pills. However, the herpes virus itself doesnt leave your body. You can take daily antiviral pills at lower doses, which lower your chance of spreading herpes to partners, but be prepared to talk openly with any potential partners about how to best have safe sex.

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How Herpes Testing Works

For the most part, herpes presents very consistently across people and can be diagnosed on sight. However, its important to still get tested and make sure that its herpes and not something else so you can treat it correctly.

The CDC recommends only testing for herpes if you have symptoms or have been recently exposed. This is because studies have shown that testing for herpes when youre asymptomatic doesnt actually change sexual behavior: people are just as likely to engage in risky behavior like not using a condom whether or not they know they have herpes, if they dont have symptoms. If you test when you dont have symptoms and dont know if youve been exposed, itll also be harder to tell if your result is a false positive.

Most at-home herpes tests involve a combination of a finger prick blood test and either a vaginal swab or urine sample . Youll collect your sample and then mail it back to the testing company, which will run it through a partner lab. Both the blood test and swab/sample are similar in design to tests performed in-office by your doctor providing both blood and a genital sample helps to minimize the risk of getting a false result and ensuring you get results in case something happens to one of your samples.

If you go to your primary medical provider, theyll take a look at your symptoms and be able to tell you if its herpes or not. Should they not be able to tell or if youre asymptomatic despite exposure theyll order one of three tests:

The Different Types Of Herpes

Herpes, or the herpes simplex virus, is a highly contagious and common virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. You may become infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 or herpes simplex virus type 2 . Each type of virus causes unique symptoms, so its important to understand their differences.

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What Are Herpes Antibodies

Antibodies are proteins the body makes to help fight infection and prevent future infections.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies are proteins that have formed due to the presence of the HSV-1 or HSV-2 virus. An immunoglobulin G blood test detects these proteins in the blood and can tell if a person has ever experienced an infection with either virus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend herpes testing for people without symptoms. There is no evidence that having a herpes diagnosis changes peoples sexual behavior and prevents herpes from spreading.

People who are pregnant may wish to have a herpes antibody test. A baby can contract herpes during vaginal childbirth. Herpes can be life threatening to newborn babies.

People may also wish to have a herpes antibody test if they:

• have had sexual contact with someone with herpes
• have a specific clinical reason for determining their HSV status
• have another reason for wanting to know their HSV status, such as having multiple sexual partners

How Can People Test For Herpes

A person can ask for a herpes test at any sexual health clinic or a doctors office. A healthcare professional will either swab a blister or draw a blood sample.

At-home herpes tests often require a blood sample through a finger prick.

Once a person receives their test results, they should contact a doctor to discuss treatment options, if necessary.

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Where Can I Get An At

This test kit will be mailed to you via USPS. You will receive a dried blood spot card, as well as other test kit materials. Please review all instructions prior to performing this test. Specimens should be shipped via USPS back to the laboratory. Results take 3-4 days upon receipt of the specimen by the laboratory.

TEST KIT REFUND POLICY- Kits can be cancelled anytime prior to sending the specimen to the lab. There is a $25 fee to cover the kit costs and shipping. So a full refund is minus $25.

How Do You Know If Youve Herpes

A herpes infection can take many forms. If youve been diagnosed with herpes, you may wonder what the symptoms of each type are and how they differ from other conditions.

The most common symptom of a new herpes infection is a cluster of small red bumps that appear on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The bumps usually develop within two weeks after exposure to the virus. The bumps then break out in blisters that turn into sores, which eventually scab over and form a crust. These symptoms last about one to three weeks.

If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and experience a recurrence without having had any sexual contact, its possible that you have an oral infection . Oral herpes is caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, but the virus isnt always active when there are no signs or symptoms on your lips and mouth. People who have oral herpes but no signs of an outbreak can still pass the virus to others through intimate contact with their skin during periods when they show no symptoms of an outbreak.

Its important to know that during an outbreak, a person can transmit the virus even if there are no visible sores or other signs of infection.

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Where Can I Get Tested For Stds / Stis

Your general practitioner, OBGYN, or urgent care clinic can all order STI / STD tests for you. You can also try a local or campus clinic or your local Planned Parenthood location.

Depending on your income, you may even be able to get tests for free. Search here for your local Planned Parenthood and call to find out if you qualify for free testing.

If youre uncomfortable with those options, or dont want STI tests on your insurance, some states allow you to order tests at home.

You can also order a testing kit and test yourself at home. Our affiliate myLAB Box can send you one now. Just pick the type of test you want. It wont have to show up on your records or insurance.

Same-day testing today: You can also use this site to order tests online and then stop by a lab near you for same-day testing.

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

Twin Panel

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Treatment If The Blisters Come Back

Go to a GP or sexual health clinic if you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and need treatment for an outbreak.

Antiviral medicine may help shorten an outbreak by 1 or 2 days if you start taking it as soon as symptoms appear.

But outbreaks usually settle by themselves, so you may not need treatment.

Recurrent outbreaks are usually milder than the first episode of genital herpes.

Over time, outbreaks tend to happen less often and be less severe. Some people never have outbreaks.

Some people who have more than 6 outbreaks in a year may benefit from taking antiviral medicine for 6 to 12 months.

If you still have outbreaks of genital herpes during this time, you may be referred to a specialist.

When Is The Best Time To Take A Herpes Test

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.

If you collect your sample too soon , the results of your test may not be as accurate.

If left untreated, both oral and genital herpes can lead to complications, including pain and susceptibility to other infections. If genital herpes is passed on during pregnancy or childbirth, it can also cause several complications in newborn babies.

In some cases, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even years after you have been infected herpes and, even if you have received treatment previously, you may suffer from an outbreak or recurrence of symptoms.

General guidance

If you are sexually active, a comprehensive sexual health check is recommended once a year, and should include our 7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:

If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, we advise that you have a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.

For further advice and guidance, visit

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At Home Sexually Transmitted Infection Tests

We offer testing kits you can take at home for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, syphilis and HIV. Test results are confidential and come back in 3 working days. We’ll advise you on next steps.

We offer testing kits you can take at home for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, syphilis and HIV. Test results are confidential and come back in 3 working days. We’ll advise you on next steps.

Due to Royal Mail strike action, we can’t guarantee our usual delivery, postage and result timeframe. So there may be delays to test kit deliveries, the time they take getting back to lab and how quickly you get your results.

How Do The Tests Work

HSV tests detect IgG and immunoglobulin M antibodies. IgG antibodies are present soon after infection with HSV and remain in the blood for life. A test result showing IGg antibodies will tell a person that they have experienced an infection in the past and that they have antibodies against the virus.

IgM antibodies appear before IgG antibodies but may disappear when the infection is inactive. Testing for IgM antibodies is not a useful way to distinguish between primary and recurrent episodes of HSV infection. Therefore, doctors do not recommend IgM testing.

A positive herpes antibody test cannot tell people where they have HSV infection or when they contracted the infection. It cannot tell if a person was capable of passing on the infection at the time of the test, nor can it tell if specific symptoms are due to herpes.

Once a sample comes back from laboratory analysis, a person will receive one of the following results:

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I Tested Positive For Herpes What Should I Do Now

For most people, having herpes does not affect their health or quality of life. To prevent passing on cold sores and genital herpes to others, a person can:

• avoid kissing others when the virus is active
• use condoms when having sex
• avoid skin-to-skin contact during an active outbreak
• avoid sharing towels, toothbrushes, and lipstick when they have sores around the mouth
• wash their hands well after touching a sore

Having multiple sexual partners can increase the risk of

transmitting STIs such as herpes. People can decrease this risk by openly discussing STI status and prevention with any partners and practicing safe sex.

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When Should I Talk With A Doctor

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.

Also Check: What’s The Difference Between Genital Warts And Herpes

Does Medicare Cover At

Medicare does not cover at-home herpes tests. Medicare does not cover herpes testing at all, although it will cover testing for other STDs. It is possible that some at-home herpes tests can be covered by private insurance, and Nurx.com accepts Medicaid but only in three states . People who want to try to have their herpes test covered by insurance may be easier to go to their doctor or local STD clinic. Planned Parenthood and other Title X clinics may also offer free or low-cost STD testing, including testing for herpes. However, insurance coverage of herpes testing may be limited to people who have symptoms.

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Treatment Of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes will clear by itself however, seeking treatment early can significantly reduce the time the outbreak lasts and can help the healing process. It also reduces the risk of you passing it on to someone else.

You will be given antivirals which work by preventing the virus from multiplying but it does not clear the virus from your body completely.

Treatment is usually started within five days of the start of the first outbreak. Treatment involves taking antiviral tablets daily for five days. There are various types of antivirals that may be prescribed, common ones include aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir.

INFORMATION

Antibiotics will not work because genital herpes is a virus not a bacteria. The treatment you buy for oral cold sores will not work either.

Some people find that another course of antivirals helps with further outbreaks. For people who have multiple outbreaks , they may be given longer courses of medication. This is known as suppressive treatment. This means taking antiviral medication for a longer time period.

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If A Pregnant Woman Gets Genital Herpes Is There A Chance Her Baby Can Get Infected

Yes. Even though adults with genital herpes may not have any symptoms, herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening. Women who get genital herpes during late pregnancy have a very high risk for having a baby with herpes infection, and these women may not even know they are infected. Women who get herpes during early pregnancy, or who are infected before they get pregnant can also spread herpes to their babies. Most babies with herpes get infected as they come into contact with the herpes virus while passing through the birth canal, but infection can also occur before birth or in the weeks after birth.

If you are pregnant and think that you or your partner may have genital herpes, tell your doctor. Your doctor can order testing and can talk to you about ways to lower your babys risk for infection.

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What Happens At A Sexual Health Clinic

The doctor or nurse at the sexual health clinic will:

• ask about your symptoms and your sexual partners
• use a small cotton bud to take some fluid from 1 of your blisters or sores for testing

The test cannot:

• be done if you do not have visible blisters or sores
• tell you how long you have had herpes or who you got it from

Symptoms might not appear for weeks or even years after youre infected with the herpes virus.

If you have genital herpes, your previous sexual partners should get tested.

The doctor or nurse at the clinic can discuss this with you and help you tell your partners without letting them know its you who has the virus.

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