Herpes is a very common virus that causes cold sores (in the case of HSV I) and genital herpes (mostly in the case of HSV II).

It is estimated that up to 70% of the global population is infected with the HSV I form of the virus which is usually acquired during childhood and the infection is lifelong. HSV I is not usually something to worry about. HSV II is widespread affecting over 10% of people in the UK and is almost exclusively transmitted by sexual contact. It causes genital herpes, but this can also be caused by HSV I in certain circumstances.

Only about a third of those with herpes know they are infected because there are often no noticeable symptoms or the symptoms are so mild that they are interpreted as something else. If symptoms do appear they may include small blisters around the genitals, stinging, burning or itching around the genitals and pain when urinating.

This blood test checks for the presence of 2 different antibodies, to not only check for an infection but also distinguish which form of the virus is present. It can take time for IgG antibodies to herpes to reach detectable levels. To avoid false negative results it is usually recommended to wait 12-16 weeks from the date of last possible exposure to ensure the most accurate test results.

Immunity