Herpes Test | HSV 1 & 2 Test

What

Discreetly screen for the presence of Herpes (HSV) 1 & 2.

Who

Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

This test screens for herpes, an STD that can cause painful sores around the mouth or genitals. The test checks for both types of herpes: herpes type-1 most often causes oral herpes and herpes type-2 most often causes genital herpes, although herpes type-1 is responsible for an increasing proportion of genital infections. Although there is no cure for herpes, treatment can help relieve the symptoms and prevent future episodes.

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 has sex with men

PLEASE NOTE

Herpes Simplex Virus – 2 serologic screening is not recommended among the general population. Additionally, if an active lesion (sore) is present, please seek further testing from your doctor as direct detection of virus (by methods such a culture, PCR, or DFA) is preferred.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 are 2 different viral infections that may cause oral or genital herpes. HSV-1 is most often responsible for oral herpes (cold sores) but can spread to the genitals through oral sex. HSV-2 is most often responsible for genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection that may lead to multiple painful ulcers on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. People with HSV may never have symptoms, which makes it very easy to spread from person to person.

There is no cure for oral or genital herpes, but there are treatment options that can help shorten or prevent outbreaks. Taking medication as prescribed may also reduce the chance of spreading HSV to other people. If left untreated, you may continue to experience symptoms.

People with HSV often do not have symptoms, which makes it easy to pass the virus to other people. Those who do have symptoms may see blisters around the mouth, genitals, or rectum around 2 to 6 weeks after being exposed.

Symptoms may include:

Tingling, burning, or itching before the blisters appear
Painful, fluid-filled blisters around the site of infection
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, or body aches

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

When your results are ready, we will send them to you in a clear, easy-to-read report. You will have the option to speak with an independent physician to discuss your results. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call to inform you. Your test results will be available to you a few days after we collect your sample.

How Does it Work?

Take an in-person test at a Quest Diagnostics location.

Over 2000+ locations focus on your safety, confidentiality and convenience.

Schedule your appointment after purchasing a test to minimize wait time.

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We will email you when your confidential results are available.

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Get lab work without having to wait and pay for an appointment with a doctor. Shop questhealth.com and choose from 75+ tests – the same quality tests that doctors use and trust, but no doctor visit required for purchase.

Easy to buy & simple to schedule

After your purchase, schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest Diagnostics location and have your specimen sample collected by a trained healthcare professional.

Fast online results, with support

Access test results from your phone as soon as they’re available, with the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

The CDC estimated that there are approximately 572,000 new genital herpes infections in the United States in a single year. Nationwide, 11.9 % of persons aged 14 to 49 years have HSV-2 infection (12.1% when adjusted for age).*

Your results are available on our free, secure patient portal that you can access on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. You will receive an email notification when your results are ready. You can also share your results with your healthcare provider, family, or friends.

FAQs

How do I know if I have herpes?

It is not always possible to know if you have herpes because you may or may not have symptoms.

Symptoms can include:

Tingling, burning, or itching before the blisters appear
Painful, fluid-filled blisters around the site of infection
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, or body aches

Often, the symptoms are mild and may be mistaken for other conditions such as pimples, warts, or ingrown hairs.

Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have herpes or any other sexually transmitted infection.

Can herpes be treated?

While there is no cure for herpes, it can be treated with prescription medication. Even though the virus will remain in your body, medication will help to lessen your symptoms and decrease the number of outbreaks.

After your results are ready, you’ll have the option to talk with a healthcare provider at no additional cost to you to discuss next steps. You may also be eligible for HSV 2 treatment. It’s important to share your results with a healthcare provider who can offer further guidance about your health.

I'm pregnant. Can I pass herpes to my baby?

It is possible to pass herpes to your unborn child. The virus can infect your baby before and during childbirth and cause neonatal herpes—a herpes infection in a newborn baby. Neonatal herpes is rare but can lead to serious illness and is fatal in some cases. If you have herpes, your healthcare provider may put you on medication as you get closer to your delivery date in order to protect both you and your baby.

How do I protect myself from getting herpes?

The best way to protect yourself is to practice safe sex. Using condoms or dental dams during sex will lower the risk of getting herpes. You may also consider:

Asking your partner if they have any STDs
Avoiding sex with someone who has sores on their genitals
Avoiding oral sex with someone who has sores on their mouth or lips

How often should I get checked for herpes?

If you do have symptoms, or if you had sex with someone who has genital herpes, you may consider getting tested or talking to your healthcare provider.

How common is HSV?

About 70% of adults have been infected by HSV-1 and have antibodies against the virus. About 20% to 50% of adults will have antibodies against the HSV-2 virus.

Does HSV ever go away?

About 70% of adults have been infected by HSV-1 and have antibodies against the virus. About 20 to 50% of adults will have antibodies against the HSV-2 virus. HSV stays in your system once you have been infected. It may be "asleep" (dormant), and cause no symptoms, or it may flare up and cause symptoms. This test cannot tell whether you are having a flare-up. Positive results can be seen in persons who have never had symptoms. In addition, a negative result does not rule out infection with HSV.

Our references

^*Genital Herpes – CDC Detailed Fact Sheet. https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm

Herpes (HSV) 1 & 2 Test