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However, HSV infections are most serious and fatal to newborns and thus infections must be treated immediately. Please ensure that the sample is collected before 9am and returned immediately using the carrier method provided within the test kit. Each test includes a prepaid shipping envelope to return your samples to the laboratory. Please do not collect or return samples on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Once your sample arrives in the laboratory, confidential results will be available from your secure online account within 2 to 5 days. People with symptoms can have one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. This is known as having an “outbreak.” The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal.
Best for fast results
A wrong result is also possible when the person has a low risk of infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend herpes testing only for people who experience symptoms. Herpes can produce blisters on and around the genitals, mouth, or rectum. One reason for this is that false-positive results are possible. HSV-2 causes genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted infection that affects more than 1 in 6 people aged 14–49 years in the United States. Getting tested can prevent oral herpes from spreading to the genital area.
When someone gets genital herpes, it can take up to 16 weeks or more after an exposure for the current tests to detect it. If a patient has no blisters or sores, providers may use a blood test to see if they have herpes. For example, if a person gets a blood test too soon after an infection, the result could be wrong.
Pros and cons of at-home herpes tests
It can take people between 2 weeks and 6 months after infection to develop enough antibodies to be detected. Retesting can ensure your results are as accurate as possible. 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.
They can then use the prepaid envelope to send it to the laboratory. This article discusses the different types of at-home herpes tests available and some advantages and disadvantages. It also lists a selection of at-home herpes tests that people can consider. If your results are positive, it’s important to let any recent sexual partners know so they can also get tested. If you haven’t had an initial outbreak, the best time to get tested for herpes is 12 days after exposure.
Best Medication For Herpes Simplex 2
The At-Home Herpes Test from myLAB Box is our top pick for discreet shipping. Test kits are shipped in inconspicuous packaging and include a low-profile return envelope. Wash your hands often if you have an outbreak or are around someone with symptoms. Sharing utensils, cups, lip balms or other personal care products.
Some companies may only offer consultations to individuals who receive a positive test. The CDC also recommends testing if a person experiences what could be a herpes outbreak. Currently, herpes is not curable, but doctors can prescribe medications to reduce the frequency and severity of the symptoms. This may help lower the chance of the infection spreading to other individuals. People who have received a positive test result may also wish to consider seeking medical advice.
If a doctor suspects a brain infection with HSV, a lumbar puncture may be performed to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis. Although these tests are valuable for identifying HSV infection, no test is perfect. Tests that identify evidence of HSV infections are routine and commonly used medical tests.

The at-home herpes test providers chosen for this list had to meet certain criteria. First and foremost, the test used to detect the virus had to be highly reliable. That means laboratories had to use one of the type-specific herpes tests considered to be the gold-standard for herpes blood tests. The company had to offer counseling or access to a doctor when results were received to enable people to seek appropriate care.
Please allow 2-3 business days for an email response from one of the volunteers on the Consumer Information Response Team. It will arrive with all of the supplies needed to collect a blood sample. Start by filling out your personal information on the test kit and reading the provided instructions. Then wash your hands and clean your fingertip using an alcohol pad. If a result does come back abnormal, you’ll be contacted by a registered nurse who can walk you through next steps and arrange for treatment options, if needed.

The HSV envelope glycoproteins gB, gD, and gH/gL interact with the receptors on the cell membrane. The nucleocapsids enter into the nucleus for viral replication. The HSV progenies are released into the cytoplasm, acquire the membrane from the host cell in a process called budding. Both types of HSV develop as a result of direct contact with the virus. If you have tingling, burning, itching, or tenderness where you had a herpes sore, keep that area of your body away from others.
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. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 is a strain of the herpes simplex virus. People may believe that HSV-1 is the same thing as oral herpes, and that it always causes cold sores to appear on the mouth or facial region, but thats not always true. HSV-1 can be acquired in the genital region, creating genital HSV-1. 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.
If you want to reduce the severity and number of your outbreaks, your provider may prescribe a medicine that can help. That means after your first outbreak of sores clears up, you may get another outbreak in the future. But the severity and number of outbreaks tend to lessen over time. Although oral and genital herpes can be uncomfortable, the viruses usually don't cause any major health problems. Still, concern about transmitting the virus to a partner is one reason why some people want at-home herpes testing. HSV-1 causes oral herpes, which may develop after exposure to the virus in saliva or on skin surfaces.
The 5 Best At-Home Herpes Tests of 2022
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. If you’re sexually active, talk openly and honestly with your provider about testing for herpes and other STIs. They can help you decide what is best for you based on your sexual and medical history.

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