At-Home Herpes Testing

While herpes is not typically screened for in sexually transmitted infection panels unless there is cause for concern, at-home testing kits are widely available and generally reliable. When choosing a test, consider the collection method. According to Jill Purdie, M.D., a board-certified OBGYN and medical director at Northside Women’s Specialists, part of Pediatrix® Medical Group, taking a swab of the sore itself is the most accurate type of test, but it’s also more prone to user error than a blood sample. An active outbreak is also required for a swab sample, whereas a blood test can determine whether you’ve been exposed to the virus even without an outbreak.

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