Clinic appointment
Herpes Antibody Test
A blood test for type-specific IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, which indicate past exposure to the virus.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
2 infections tested for
Herpes simplex virus type 1 antibodies
Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the usual cause of cold sores and now the commonest cause of genital herpes in the UK. After infection the virus stays in the body for life and can reactivate, sometimes without symptoms.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies
Looks for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), one of the two viruses that cause genital herpes and the one more likely to cause repeat outbreaks. Most first HSV-2 infections cause no symptoms, and the virus then stays in the body for life.
Overview
A blood test for type-specific IgG antibodies to herpes simplex types 1 and 2, which show whether you have been exposed to the virus at some point in the past. People consider it when a partner has been diagnosed, or when they had symptoms in the past but were never tested while a sore was actually present, which is when the swab test works.
For someone who wants to know whether they have ever been exposed to HSV-1 or HSV-2, for example when a partner has been diagnosed, or when they have had symptoms in the past but were never tested while a sore was present.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone whose partner has herpes and who wants to know their own status
- People with past symptoms but no sore to swab now
Who it isn’t for
- Antibody testing for herpes is not recommended for routine screening in the UK, because HSV-1 antibodies are very common, often from cold sores picked up in childhood, and a positive result does not tell you where the infection is or when you acquired it. Antibodies also take up to 12 weeks to develop, so a recent exposure can give a negative result. If you currently have a sore, a swab taken from it is the more informative test.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- A partner diagnosed with genital herpes
- Past symptoms you were never tested for at the time
- Recurrent sores you want to understand
- Planning a pregnancy with a partner who has genital herpes
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 antibodiesDetected
- Result
- Positive
- Range
- Negative
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodiesNegative
- Result
- Negative
- Range
- Negative
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herpes simplex virus type 1 antibodies | Positive | n/a | Negative | Detected |
| Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies | Negative | n/a | Negative | Negative |
Doctor’s note (example)
HSV-1 antibodies are common, usually from childhood cold sores. On its own this does not mean genital herpes.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- You book your appointmentA trained clinician takes your sample at one of our London clinics. Nothing to do at home.
- The clinician takes your sampleA single clinic blood draw by a trained clinician
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Clinic blood draw
- Preparation
- Read instructions below
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
Type-specific herpes antibodies can take up to 12 weeks to become detectable, so a negative result before 12 weeks should be repeated.
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
These blood tests look for antibodies to a virus, or for part of the virus itself, and are reported as reactive or non-reactive, or against a threshold, rather than as a normal range. A result reflects the time the sample was taken: a non-reactive result taken too soon after an exposure can miss an infection, so a test taken too early may need repeating. Depending on the test, a reactive antibody result can reflect past exposure or vaccination rather than an infection happening now, so the doctor reads it in context.
If you have symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse, contact your GP, an NHS sexual health clinic or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
I have a sore right now. Is this the right test?
Probably not. While a lesion is present, a swab PCR test taken directly from it is more informative, because it tests for the virus itself rather than for past exposure. We sell that separately.
Does a positive HSV-1 result mean I have genital herpes?
No. HSV-1 antibodies are very common and most often come from cold sores acquired in childhood. Antibodies show exposure to the virus, not where it is in the body, which is why a doctor reads the result with your history.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test is a clinic blood draw, as it needs a venous sample for accuracy. We arrange a convenient appointment for you.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. Each marker is reported the way the laboratory sends it, for example reactive or non-reactive, or as a level against the laboratory's threshold, with the doctor's note on what the results mean together. A reactive result may need a confirmatory test, and the report explains how that and any treatment are arranged, usually through your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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