Herpes Test | HSV 1 & 2 Test | Herpes Blood Test

Herpes (HSV) 1 & 2 Test

With this herpes test, discreetly test your blood for both types of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), a sexually transmitted infection. If your HSV-2 result is positive, the lab will perform an additional confirmatory test on your sample at no extra cost to you. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

No special preparation is required.

Test type: In Person

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$105.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

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

Herpes is a common STI caused by 2 herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) that can be transmitted both sexually and through other body fluids and skin contact. This herpes blood test checks for both HSV-1 and HSV-2, which can cause painful sores around the mouth (oral herpes) or genitals (genital herpes). If your HSV-2 result is positive, the lab will perform an additional confirmatory test on your sample at no extra cost to you.

If you’re sexually active, especially if you’ve had unprotected sex, regular screening is one of the best ways to protect your health and the health of your partner. Although there is no cure for herpes, HSV tests can help with early detection, inform treatment to relieve symptoms, reduce future episodes, and prevent transmission.

Included with your purchase, you have the ability to review your results with an independent healthcare provider.

No doctor’s visit needed. Buy this herpes blood test, visit a nearby Quest location, and get fast results.

This test may be useful if you:

Want to determine if you have developed antibodies for either HSV-1 or HSV-2
Have recurrent genital symptoms
Have a prior clinical diagnosis of genital herpes without laboratory confirmation
Have a partner who has known genital herpes
Have multiple sex partners
Have an 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. If Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (IgG) is >1.09, then HSV-2 Inhibition Study will be performed. This Inhibition Study is a confirmatory test, designed to make sure that the positive result is real and not a false positive, which can sometimes occur with low-level positive results for antibody tests.

People with HSV often do not have symptoms, which makes it easy to pass the virus to other people.

Those who do have symptoms are described as having an “outbreak” and may develop:

Blisters around the mouth, genitals, or rectum
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

These symptoms may come and go periodically throughout life but are often worse on an initial outbreak. Treatments cannot cure but may suppress the virus and reduce the likelihood of both outbreaks and transmission. If your results are positive, you should discuss options with your doctor.

These symptoms can be associated with other conditions. Regardless of your results, please discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. This test requires specimen collection at a Quest Diagnostics location or through Quest Mobile™, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection not available in AK, AZ, or HI.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, not available in all locations.

No special preparation is required.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If you have or create a MyQuest® account, you can view your new results there with your other Quest results.

If your results indicate possible infection, you will receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent healthcare providers are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

Buy a lab test

No doctor visit is required for purchase.

Shop now

Register your test
& schedule an appointment

Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

Buy a lab test
+ in-home sample collection

No doctor visit required for purchase. If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $79 fee.

Buy now

Register your test
& schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, register your test and Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

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).*

It’s possible to have HSV without showing symptoms. And, because the virus spreads through close contact, understanding how to get tested for herpes is an important step in protecting your health and the health of others.

FAQs

How do I know if I have herpes?

Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have herpes or any other sexually transmitted infection because many people do not have symptoms, or the symptoms are mistaken for other conditions. Symptoms, if they occur, can include the following:

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

The symptoms will generally clear on their own but may return periodically throughout your life. Often, the symptoms are mild and may be mistaken for other conditions, such as pimples, warts, or ingrown hairs.

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 ability to talk with a healthcare provider at no additional cost regarding options that may be available to you and how you can seek treatment, if appropriate. It’s important to share your results with your healthcare provider who can offer further guidance about your health.

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

Yes, it is possible to pass herpes to your unborn child. The virus can impact your pregnancy and may 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, you should discuss options with your healthcare provider as they may put you on medication as you get closer to your delivery date to protect both you and your baby.

This could cause serious pregnancy complications, and the baby could develop health problems or be born early. If you are pregnant, it is important to get tested for STDs as soon as possible and, if you are positive, contact your OBGYN right away.

How do I protect myself from getting herpes?

The best way to protect yourself is to exercise safe sex practices, including wearing a condom or dental dam, and limiting the number of sexual partners that you have. Regular testing can help you detect STDs early, before they cause complications or spread further. For herpes specifically, 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 those who have never had symptoms. In addition, a negative result does not rule out infection with HSV.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

CDC Genital Herpes. About Genital Herpes. Accessed September 18, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/

Herpes (HSV) 1 & 2 Test